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Presentation of the conference keynote from co-organisers.
Launch of interactive timeline, A People’s History of Censorship
Today, film regulation is typically done through a central body that filters content for an audience. But is this feasible in the digital age?
Could the answer be decentralising the responsibility among different stakeholders? This panel will look at what this transition process could look like and some of the challenges of existing self-regulatory models.
MODERATOR
Co-Founder
Freedom Film Network
Anna Har began working in the field of human rights and films following a degree in film and anthropology. A pioneer in community filmmaking for organising and activism in Malaysia, she also has over 25 years of experience in training and producing films with grassroots communities across South East Asia.
She is an award winning creative director and continues to be behind many of the films produced by civil society on community and human rights issues in Malaysia.
Executive Director
Communications & Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia
A legal and regulatory professional with 20 years of experience in top legal firms and public listed companies including Astro and AirAsia. With expertise in policy management and stakeholder engagement, Mediha is currently the Executive Director of the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum.
Honorary Associate Professor
Australian National University
Thomas Barker is Honorary Associate Professor at the Humanities Research Centre, Australian National University and formerly an Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham Malaysia. He is the author of Indonesian Cinema after the New Order: Going Mainstream and researches screen media in Southeast Asia.
Associate Professor
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Associate Professor Dr. Wan Amizah Wan Mahmud is a senior lecturer from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Highlights of her career include TV3, Akademi TV3, Malaysian National Translation Institute (ITNM) and Messrs. Sri Ram & Co. She is a member of the Film Appeal Committee, Ministry of Home Affairs, since 2010.
Throughout history, filmmakers in every part of the world have persisted in tackling certain “no-go” themes in their works. Our panellists share instances where these stories needed to be told.
And what are the new challenges in telling these stories in the digital age?
MODERATOR
Associate Professor Faculty of Arts
University of Nottingham, Malaysia
Gaik has experienced different tertiary educational systems, obtaining her B.A. (English) from The University of Texas (Austin), then moving to Canada for her MA (English) and PhD (Interdisciplinary Studies) at The University of British Columbia. She spent two years as a postdoctoral fellow at the Asia Research Institute (ARI-NUS) in Singapore in 2004-05 where she built up invaluable networks in the region before becoming a lecturer at The Australian National University where she taught gender, cultural studies and Southeast Asian cinema (2005-2012).
She is currently the Director of the University of Nottingham Asia Research Institute, Malaysia.
Honorary Associate Professor
Australian National University
Thomas Barker is Honorary Associate Professor at the Humanities Research Centre, Australian National University and formerly an Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham Malaysia. He is the author of Indonesian Cinema after the New Order: Going Mainstream and researches screen media in Southeast Asia.
Head of Research & Development
Indonesian Film Board (BPI)
Tito Imanda is an anthropologist and filmmaker. His practical PhD thesis is about collaborative filmmaking with a traditional performance group in a remote area in Central Java, exploring new ways of visual storytelling. His master thesis is about the political economy of the Indonesian film industry. In 2008-2013 he developed and managed a film school at a private university in Jakarta.
What are some of the common challenges faced by filmmakers and regulators related to the implementation of content guidelines, especially those brought about by digital technology? Are there international standards that can be used to draw the line between what are acceptable restrictions, and what are infringements on creativity and freedom of expression?
MODERATOR
Executive Director
Communications & Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia
A legal and regulatory professional with 20 years of experience in top legal firms and public listed companies including Astro and AirAsia. With expertise in policy management and stakeholder engagement, Mediha is currently the Executive Director of the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum.
Filmmaker
KL Post
A Samad Hassan is the Head of Operations at KL Post. He has worked on more than 100 feature length projects ranging from big-budget blockbusters to small, award-winning indies films. In recent years, he has been making premium streaming shows for international streaming platforms.
Consultant & Researcher
Democratic Governance and Rights-based Development
Maha is a researcher, content producer and trainer in democratic development, executive-legislative relations and rights-based policymaking. She practised law for 12 years and now consults for INGOs, NGOs and think-tanks. Maha has an MSc. in Democracy and Comparative Politics from University College London, and an LL.B from University of Bristol.
fILMMAKER
sKOP pRODUCTIONS sDN bHD
Syafiq Yusof is an actor, screenwriter and director from Malaysia. He is well known for his films Abang Long Fadil (2014), Villa Nabilla (2015) and Desolasi (2016). Desolasi earned him the Best Director award at the 2017 PROFIMA Awards. His latest film Polis Evo 3 was well received by audiences in Malaysia.
Malaysian short films from young Malaysian filmmakers about underrepresented communities and stories followed by a Q&A.
MODERATOR
Zi An Pictures
Anwar Johari Ho is a Malaysian filmmaker whose stories often touch upon transnational human connections. A University of Reading MA Film graduate, his thesis film FORGET ME NOT (2019) achieved recognition at festivals including the Jaffna International Cinema and Seashorts Film Festival. His second short, BURUNG-BURUNG / OF ALL THE BIRDS (2020) had its world premiere at the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival 2020 and subsequently won the Jury Prize at the Mini Film Festival 2021. Spending 2021 directing in Cambodia and an alumnus of the inaugural mylab in 2022, Anwar is currently developing his debut feature film titled UNDER FOREIGN SKIES.
Director, Osom
Adam Zainal, born in 1996, is a graduate of the Faculty of Cinematic Arts at Multimedia University Johor, Malaysia. His short film, ‘Kantoi’, was nominated for the Best Short Film Award at Freedom Film Festival 2018 and it was selected for the Top 3 Short Films at Malaysia International Film Festival 2019. It also has over 800,000 views on YouTube.
Adam Zainal has a penchant for eccentric people and he draws inspiration from his relationships with them. His voice as a filmmaker mainly focuses on youth and the journey of growth.
Director, Bagan
Firdaus Balam (b. 1998) is an independent filmmaker based in Malaysia. He graduated from Multimedia University Iskandar Puteri with a Bachelor of Cinematic Arts. His passion for filmmaking started at an early age as he aspires to be a film director since young. ‘Anak Seletar’ is his first attempt at a long-form documentary as he observes the life of an indigenous tribe in the south of Malaysia. The film is about emotion, and emotion can be understood by anyone. He believes that film should be a medium for the voiceless person to tell their stories in a free way.
Director, Story 2
Syukri A Rahim is a filmmaker shifting between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru. His film, Dari Alam Selari, has been screened at Seashorts 2022. His film STORY 2: REGARDLESS, I STILL LONG FOR YOU | 故事2：不管所发生的一切，我依然渴望你。won the Best Script award at BMW Shorties 2022 alongside a nomination for Top 10 Finalist.
He contributed audio work and visual for extended.asia for Singapore Binnale 2022 under a Johor Bahru based collective 11f. He also collaborated for an audio work for Chloe Yap Mun Ee’s “I don’t really want you to see me,
but I still want to show you. (2021/2022)” for Bakat Muda Sezaman 2021.
Malaysian short films from young Malaysian filmmakers about underrepresented communities and stories followed by a Q&A.
MODERATOR
Zi An Pictures
Anwar Johari Ho is a Malaysian filmmaker whose stories often touch upon transnational human connections. A University of Reading MA Film graduate, his thesis film FORGET ME NOT (2019) achieved recognition at festivals including the Jaffna International Cinema and Seashorts Film Festival. His second short, BURUNG-BURUNG / OF ALL THE BIRDS (2020) had its world premiere at the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival 2020 and subsequently won the Jury Prize at the Mini Film Festival 2021. Spending 2021 directing in Cambodia and an alumnus of the inaugural mylab in 2022, Anwar is currently developing his debut feature film titled UNDER FOREIGN SKIES.
Director, 46th moon
Chan Teik Quan is a filmmaker and assistant lecturer at Multimedia University. His short films were screened at various film festivals, namely Singapore International Film Festival, Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival, Cardiff International Film Festival and more. He often draws inspiration from the mortality and impermanence of human life.
Director, Rama-Rama
Ekin Kee Charles is a filmmaker from Kota Marudu, Sabah. An advocate storyteller, Ekin hopes to share more stories coming from the community where she grew up in may it be in a form of tradition or self finding. To share what life is like in the suburban area and how much love she has for her community.
Director, Still In Motion
Laura studied animation in college and directs commercials for a living. Her short film script, You’re Happy, It’s Okay, was selected for ShorTS Pitching Training 2021 in Italy. The short film premiered at the Oscar Qualifying film festival in America, HollyShorts Film Festival 2023. Her second short film script,Totality, won the Distribution Award at FEST New Directors New Films Festival 2022 in Portugal.
FREEDOM FILM NETWORK
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