Malaysian born/Hong Kong-based film producer and film festival consultant, Lorna Tee, has resigned as the co-festival director of the International Film Festival Malaysia (IFFM).

Tee is also stepping down from the International Advisory Panel and secretariat which was set up to support and advise the Malaysian film industry.

FINAS (National Film Development Corporation Malaysia) appointed Tee as co-festival director with Dennis Lim last April. It was announced at Cannes 2012 that the festival would be held as part of the Kuala Lumpur Content and Communication Market (KLCCIM) scheduled for November 2012 and later postponed to March 2013.

Due to the impending elections in Malaysia, neither the festival or market have so far taken place.

Tee had worked on a festival line-up of around 60 films, along with masterclasses and panels, and was looking at the possibility of a co-production market for South-East Asian films. In a statement she explained that she had decided to resign as no new dates have been set for the festival and she will now focus her time on producing.

“Unfortunately the film festival does not take off as planned. There was a lot of goodwill and positive feedback and support by both the local and international film industry. I am still supportive of any initiatives to grow and promote the Malaysian film industry as Malaysia will always be home to me,” said Tee.