The Freedom Filmfest 2003 | 28-30 Nov 2003

NOW SHOWING: Films with a social conscience

The Freedom Filmfest 2003 presents films and documentaries that takes a
concerned view of the most pressing issues of our time, aimed at
provoking awareness, inspiring solidarity, and celebrating courage and
dignity. Organised by grassroots organisers and media trainers Pusat
Komunikasi Masyarakat and think-tank Institut Kajian Dasar, the
festival consists of film screenings, debates, and photo exhibitions.
The fest will also be kicking off a parallel competition to encourage
Malaysian filmmakers to stand up for justice and human rights. For more
information, visit http://freedomfilmfest.komas.org

17 films from around the world
Courageous testimonies
Compelling stories
Workshops and debates
Audience discussions
Music and photo exhibitions

When: 28 - 30 November. Please check screening program for details.
Where: HELP Institute Auditorium, BZ-2, Pusat Bandar Damansara, Off
Jalan Semantan, 50420 Kuala Lumpur

Cost: FREE

Get your festival passes at the door or book in advance.

For advance bookings, email info@... or call 012
970 7866 (10am-5pm only), with your name, number and the amount of
tickets required for each session. Please note that you will to collect
your passes at the venue 20 mins in advance.
 

SCREENING PROGRAM
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Friday, November 28th
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Festival Opening and reception

7:30 pm
Showcase film: Seeing is believing (Canada) 2002, 60 mins
This documentary looks at how amateur footage produced through the
handicam has served to challenge the traditional boundaries of
journalism and democratise news making around the world. Won the single
largest cash prize ever given in the documentary world: US$25,000.
-------------------------------
9:30 pm
BadĪ Tan Refda (Indonesia), 2003, 26 mins
The title of this film, by Lexy Rambadeta, translates as 'Aceh's
Neverending Tragedy'. The camera records the daily lives of randomly
chosen Acehnese women - victims and survivors of over three decades of
armed conflict between the Indonesian military and separatists Gerakan
Aceh Merdeka (GAM). The conflict rages on until today.
 

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Saturday, November 29th
Note: Some sessions will be followed by a 10 minute moderated audience
discussion
-------------------------------

Session 2: Gender and sexuality
2:00 pm

3R: Identiti di sebalik cermin (Malaysia) 2003, 30 mins
This particular episode of a tv-magazine program for young women
explores gay identities and societal pressures.

Shinjuku Boys (Japan) 1995, 53 mins
The film follows the lives of three annabes - women who live as men and
have girlfriends, although they don't usually identify as lesbians -
working as hosts at the New Marilyn Club in Tokyo. This is a remarkable
documentary about the complexity of female sexuality in Japan today.
-------------------------------

Session 3: Women's rights
3:45 pm

The Day I became A Woman (Iran) 2001, 78 mins
This touching trilogy of stories looks at the lives of women in Iran,
the traditional roles expected of them, and their struggle for greater
freedom. in the society.

Facing The Future (Bangladesh) 2003, 26 mins
Women have come increasingly under acid attacks as a form of
retaliation, killing some and disfiguring many for life. Most victims
are young women like Kakoli, who was attacked for spurning a fellow
student's marriage proposal.
-------------------------------

Session 4: Indigenous communities and the environment
5:45 pm

Agno (Phillippines), 2003, 20 mins
The Phillippines government approved the building of the massive San
Roque dam on the Agno river in Banguet province, Phillippines. Problem
is, the foreign-funded, foreign-built project runs right smack in the
middle of indigenous and farming land - and tremendous ecological
damage is forecasted.

Buka Sasi Lompa (Indonesia), 1996
In the province of Maluku, Indonesia, the tiny island of Haruku stands
out for its people's unique solution to sustainably harvesting nature's
resources. The film documents the ceremonial lifting of the hunting ban
(buka sasi) on the fish (lompa).
-------------------------------

Session 5: War and displacement
7:30 pm

Redemption Day (Burma), 2002, 5 mins
There are over 1/4 million internally displaced people hiding inside
Burma, including the Karen. Footages shot by a young Karen woman in
Karen state shows images of the gruesome reality and life of her
people's lives, as they try to flee from the atrocities commited by the
military junta.

Mass Graves (Indonesia), 2002, 26 mins
The bloody massacre of civilians 1965-66 in Indonesia was considered
one of the greatest atrocities in modern history, and had set the stage
for almost three decades of dictatorship by Suharto. With testimony
from victims' families and survivors, the film tries to understand why
there is still so much silence over the military's complicity in the
affair.
-------------------------------

Session 6: Urban issues
8.15 pm

Small Voices, Small Dreams (Philippines), 1999, 20 mins
Created by the street children themselves, the footages dwell on lives,
their daily fend for survival, and their pressing social and economic
plight.

Dark Days (New York), 2000, 84 mins
When director Marc Singer befriended a homeless man, little did he know
he would soon be moving deep underground in unused sections of the New
York subway system. Their pitch-black, rat-infested tunnel becomes the
stage for this award-winning film, its residents the cast and crew.
Features a moving sound track from DJ Shadow.
 

-------------------------------
Sunday, November 30th
Note: Some sessions will be followed by a 10 minute moderated audience
discussion
-------------------------------

Session 7: Malaysian shorts
2:00 pm

"We are not animals" (Malaysia), 2003, 20 mins
This community video explores issues faced by the urban poor
communities in Malaysia who are ejected out of their homes and put into
the streets, for standing in the way of development.

Behind Doors (Malaysia), 2003, 5 mins 30 secs
This animated story, by former Multimedia University students, revolves
around a house in a kampung, inhabited by a young child aged 9, Ina,
and her sexually abusive mechanic father. The story depicts what
usually happens in one of her long and sad nights.
-------------------------------

Discussion Forum: Making Films That Matter
3:00 pm
This forum brings filmmakers and social activists together to discuss
issues that arise from making socially conscious films, and its impact
on people. The public is encouraged to attend.
-------------------------------

Session 8: Culture and religion
4:30 pm

When Buddha Touched Tamaole (Cambodia), 2003, 18 mins
Praeh Ong Chip Chan To went to serve as a monk in Tamaole, a small
rural village in Cambodia, 6 years ago. Observing the ecological
destruction caused by the villagers' agricultural practices, he leads
them to think not only of their immediate needs, but also the needs of
their children. Not easy in a country where any sort of community
organization brings back memories of the cruel Pol Pot regime.

Taboo (UK), 1995, 20 mins
Made for UK's Channel 4, this doc explores the conflict between
religion and disability. Notions like 'sin' and 'non-perfection' form a
large part of the prejudice against disabled people.
-------------------------------

Session 9: Feature film
5:45 pm
Birdman Tale (Indonesia), 2002, 90 mins
Garin Nugroho's remarkable movies continue to explore the
disintegration of Indonesia in ways that no foreign correspondent's
despatches can touch. Fresh from uncovering the fate of Aceh's
separatist rebels in The Poet, he turns his attention to the
predominantly Christian province of Papua (aka Irian), where the
charismatic Theys Eluay, non-violent leader of the independence
movement, died in military custody in 2001.




see you people there!

Joe

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