
Check out photos from FFF’s photo stream. There are separate sets for KL, Penang, JB and Kuching.
Special thanks to Leong Mei Yee, Elaine Foster, Brenda Danker, Anna Har, Chi Too and the Freedom Film Fest support staff and volunteers. “Pecah Lobang” and the Freedom Film Fest wouldn’t have been possible without them.
Freedom Film Fest is organized by Pusat Komas, a non-profit social justice media organization based in the Klang Valley. Every year, Pusat Komas awards three filmmakers RM5,000 each to produce documentaries about human rights in Malaysia. The films usually cover issues that are often deemed too “sensitive” by local mainstream media.
The three winning films in 2008 were:
Abror Rivai’s “Pilihanraya Umum Malaysia ke-12: Demokerasi atau rebutan kerusi,” which compares the election process in Malaysia, South Korea and Afghanistan; Justin Johari’s “Who Speaks For Me,” about a Muslim hip hop group searching for its voice in Islam; and of course, “Pecah Lobang.”
The festival also brings in other human rights documentaries from around the world. This year’s film selection included John Pilger’s “The War on Democracy” and William Neesen’s “Black Road.”
And it’s free! Festival go-ers do not have to pay a single cent to catch the films and interact with the filmmakers.
In addition to organizing the annual film festival, Pusat Komas also shoots and archives footage of various political, social issues that do not make it to mainstream media, as they are deemed too controversial by government-affiliated news networks and organizations.
Founded in 1993, the non-profit runs on a shoe-string budget and are dependent on individual donors and organizations like Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.
Without funding, there is no festival. Without continuous financial support, there won’t be anyone to care for archival footage that you won’t find anywhere else in Malaysia.
If you would like to support Pusat Komas please contact:
Pusat Komas (Community Communication Centre)
40-A, Jalan 52/18,
46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: 603-7968 5415
Email: freedomfilmfest@gmail.com
Terima kasih, kam siah, xièxie, nandri for your support.
Sincerely,
Poh Si