How MIFFest is showcasing Malaysian content and talent to global audiences

The Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) returns this year in a bold celebration of cinema, featuring a record line-up of 65 films from 48 countries and running over nine days from July 19-27 in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur.

One of the key highlights of this eighth edition is ASEAN On Screen, an inaugural industry programme dedicated to promoting regional content and talents to global audiences.

The programme is presented under the banner of the inaugural ASEAN Film & TV Summit, which is supported by the Ministry of Communications and National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) to mark Malaysia as a host country chairing ASEAN this year. It is also the 10th anniversary of the formal establishment of the ASEAN community.

The ASEAN On Screen programme comprises four panel discussions, all held on July 23. These include Beyond Borders, in which ASEAN film agencies explore how they can work together to foster cross-border collaboration; Cinematic Frontiers, about the journey of ASEAN producers as they bring local stories to global markets; Cinema in Flux, which through filmmakers from Korea, Indonesia and Hong Kong, examine at the cinematic voice in a rapidly evolving landscape; and From Local to Global, about the role of immersive technologies and of ASEAN on building a future-ready, collaborative ecosystem.

Notable speakers include Lee Dong-Ha, the South Korean producer of Train To Busan; South Korean director Lee Sang-Hoon, whose latest film Family Secrets is playing at MIFFest, ahead of its domestic release in September; and Tran Thi Bich Ngoc, Vietnamese producer of The Third Wife and Glorious Ashes.

“In conjunction with Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2025, we’re proud to introduce ASEAN On Screen as part of the ASEAN Film & TV Summit,” says MIFFest founder and president Joanne Goh. “It is a platform that not only highlights the unique spirit of Southeast Asian cinema, but also strengthens creative ties across the region. It’s a meaningful step toward positioning ASEAN voices on the global stage.”

Celebrating cinema

This year’s MIFFest opens with the world premiere of Bebbra Mailin’s feature debut Ninavau, which follows an indigenous Kadazan woman who returns to her home in Sabah for her sister’s wedding. Homegrown Malaysian filmmaker Bebbra has won acclaim for her short films, including the short version of Ninavau, winner of best short film at MIFFest in 2019. She was the producer of 2020’s Hail, Driver, Malaysia’s entry for the Oscars.

A pair of Malaysian films play in the Malaysian Dispatch section. Abid Hussain’s feature debut Memori, an emotive drama about a prodigal son who returns home to help his father, a doctor, recall their shared past, plays at MIFFest ahead of its local theatrical release on July 31, while Zahir Omar’s Housekeeping? is showing on the big screen for the first time in Malaysia, following its OTT debut on Amazon Prime Video last September. The latter is a comedy about three hotel housekeeping staff who land themselves in big trouble after discovering a bag of money.

Malaysian New Wave director James Lee presents his latest film Next Stop, Somewhere in the ASEAN On Screen section, which will screen a total of six films from the region. His Malaysia-Taiwan co-production stars renowned Hong Kong actor Anthony Wong.

The Open Cinema section brings back nine popular Malaysian films such as 2015’s Polis Evo, 2017’s The Kid From The Big Apple and 2018’s Munafik 2, all of which proved major hits.

Legendary actor Ti Lung, whose long and distinguished career can be traced back to the 1960s with the Shaw Brothers, will be honoured with the lifetime achievement award. While at MIFFest, he will present a masterclass and attend the Q&A of both John Woo’s 1986 classic A Better Tomorrow and Malaysian production The Kid From The Big Apple.

There are also set to be masterclasses from German-South African filmmaker Pia Marais, whose latest feature Transamazonia is the festival’s closing film, and UK filmmaker Asif Kapadia, who serves as jury president of the Malaysia Golden Global Awards (MGGA).

This year’s MGGA comprises a lineup of nine international films, with diverse narratives spanning from China, North Macedonia to Palestine and Tunisia. The awards ceremony will be held on July 26 at Zepp KL.

“At MIFFest, we celebrate the infinite power of cinema to connect, reflect, and transform,” adds Goh. “With every story shared, we bridge cultures, spark dialogue, and honour the voices that shape our world, locally, regionally, and globally.”