FFF2019 highlights that the UN Declaration on Human Rights declares that “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of [themselves] and of [their] family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care.”

But despite that, many of us are struggling to provide for ourselves. Issues such as the rising cost of living, the ever increasing price of food and petrol, the struggle to finance housing and pay for healthcare and stagnant wages are serious issues facing Malaysians and the international community alike.

Here are some of our highlights:

First-ever art battle inspired by our films

It’s a beautiful thing when art inspires other artists.

FayFay, an aspiring Portrait Artist, specializing in portrait painting, was part of our first ever art battle inspired by the films featured at the festival. This community of Malaysian artist, were given 30 minutes to live paint in front of a live audience as part of our festival activities.

Dialogue on global housing crisis with policy-makers

The festival opened with PUSH, a feature documentary film by Fredrik Gertten on housing as a fundamental human rights.

Fredrik was at the festival to present his film and to take questions from the audience after the film. It was a full house screening and attendees included then Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government, Raja Kamarul Bahrin.

An extended forum entitled, Pushing back on affordable homes in the city – What can our local govt do? was held after the screening with Fredrik, MP of Petaling Jaya Puan Maria Chin and Deputy Director of Research from Khazanah Research Institute, Chris Choong

Dialogue on global housing crisis with YB Maria Chin, Fredrick Gertten and Chris Choong

YB Maria Chin commenting about the housing situation in PJ during FFF2019

Fredrick Gertten, filmmaker of PUSH

Opening film, PUSH at FreedomFilmFest 2019

Partnership with community organisation Pit Stop

Together with Pit Stop, we had a multimedia workshop using photography and video, adopts a different perspective by inviting kitchen soup volunteers, artists and young filmmakers to converse with the homeless people, and collaboratively produce short multimedia narratives.

A volunteer passing food to the patron of Pit Stop

One of the volunteer explaining about the rules of the kitchen

Our workshop participants documenting stories of the people

Queue at Pit Stop

We went on a roadshow across Malaysia

Aside from the screenings at Petaling Jaya, our festival travelled to Muar, Johor Bahru, Temerloh, George Town, Ipoh, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Miri.

News Coverage

1. The racial riots that took place on May 13, 1969, remain a wound that has yet to heal – even after 50 years (Malaysiakini on 50 Years of Silence, 26 Sept 2019)
2. ASTRO AWANI: The Future is Female (5 October 2019)

Films Screened at this edition