FFF2022 returned back to the big screen with a line up of some of the most deep, difficult and daring films produced just before and during the pandemic around the theme of “Pandemik Dua Darjat”.  After more than 2 years of being in isolation, it was time that we celebrated being in community again – by laughing, crying and sharing all ranges of emotions together via films.

Here are some of our highlights:

A special performance by Orang-Orang Drum Theatre

The festival opened with a special performance titled Tuyang Sit in The Corner by the Orang-Orang Drum Theatre.

The word ‘orang‛ means people, and the heart behind OODT is to bring the arts to the people; the word ‘drum theatre‛ is used because just by placing a drum in a theatre space, it has the ability to tell a story and make music.

Launch of the Arkib Filem Rakyat

The Arkib Filem Rakyat has accumulated 29 years of raw footage and films documenting the nation’s social movement. This collection provides an alternative perspective of the peoples’ history, identity and nation building efforts. It is the only film footage archive on human rights in Malaysia and is an ongoing effort to preserve and document historical audiovisual materials sourced nationwide.

The Arkib Filem Rakyat was launched by Dr. Markus Litz, the director of Goethe-Institut Malaysia.

Launch of two reports on film censorship in Malaysia

We launched two reports on film censorship titled “An Evaluation of The Film Censorship Framework in Malaysia” and “Censorship and It’s Impact on The Screen Industries in Malaysia”. We also had a discussion about film censorship with the producer of the film “Split Gravy On Rice”, Zarul Albakri.

A dialogue with the Orang Asli Young Women in changing narratives

We screened Selai Kayu Yek, Klinik Ku Hutan and Rahsia Rimba where all these 3 films were produced by the Apa Kata Wanita Orang Asli team. After which these young women share their journey of taking their voices to the screen where they have charted a new path by creating their own media spaces; telling their stories from their own perspective and in their own words.

We went on a roadshow across Malaysia

Aside from the screenings at Petaling Jaya, our festival traveled to Melaka, Ipoh, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Miri, George Town, Langkawi and Singapore.

News Coverage

• Arkib Filem Rakyat penawar nostalgia politik palsu (Malaysiakini on Arkib Filem Rakyat, 5 Oct 2022)
• “I have been producing films in the mid-80s and early 90s before taking a long break…” (The Star on Film Censorship in Malaysia, 15 Sept 2022)
• “The film experience is only complete when the audience watches the film and filmmakers get to see their response” (Eksentrika on 19 years of FreedomFilmFest, 2022)

• FreedomFilmFest 2022 Returns after Covid-19 Hiatus (The Vibes on FreedomFilmFest 2022, 8 Sept 2022)

• “Ini adalah satu peluang untuk mengimbas kembali apa yang telah berlaku kepda kita dan cabaran-cabaran yang masih di hadapan kita” (Getaran mengenai FreedomFilmFest 2022, 23 Aug 2022)

Films Screened at this edition