“Somehow I feel that an ordinary person-the man in the street if you like-is a more challenging subject for exploration than people in the heroic mold. It is the half shades, the hardly audible notes that I want to capture and explore. My films are about human beings, human relationships, and social problems. I think it is possible for everyone to relate to these issues”
— Satyajit Ray, filmmaker

Social Films for Social Change

We believe that social films can create social change.

FreedomFilmFest, the international human rights film festival, is organised by Freedom Film Network and Goethe-Institute Malaysia and is a key activity in the Social Films for Social Change project funded by the European Union.

Social Films for Social Change is a five-year project aims to use creative media, films and videos to strengthen democracy and human rights in Malaysia, with a particular focus on women rights and empowerment of indigenous peoples.

Freedom Film Network’s key activities are:

  1. Grants for production of social films & advocacy
  2. Capacity-building workshops
  3. Social film archive
  4. Film screenings and engagement platform
  5. The Film Censorship Act & You

Grants for production of social films & advocacy

Under the Social Films for Social Change project, we produce documentaries with civil society organisations and filmmakers as part of our human rights festival’s film grant programme.

These filmmakers are often first-time directors who represent their community voices and struggles, such as the rights of the elderly,  sex workers, and the rights of the forgotten and marginalised, such as farmers, the blind community, and the urban poor.

On the set of My Life by Sarawakian filmmaker Albert Bansa is a Iban-language documentary highlighting the urban and rural wage gap
On the set of My Life by Sarawakian filmmaker Albert Bansa is a Iban-language documentary highlighting the urban and rural wage gap
On the set of Ayahku, Dr G, a story about a daughter fighting for her father's release over 36 charges of drug related offences for his use of medical marijuana
On the set of Ayahku, Dr G, a story about a daughter fighting for her father's release over 36 charges of drug related offences for his use of medical marijuana
Farmers Are Not Lazy is a documentary about smallholding paddy farmers face a battle with the government over self-cultivated paddy seeds
Farmers Are Not Lazy is a documentary about smallholding paddy farmers face a battle with the government over self-cultivated paddy seeds
Our typical pitching session went online in 2020 when social distancing was enforced because of the pandemic
Our typical pitching session went online in 2020 when social distancing was enforced because of the pandemic
Farmers Are Not Lazy is directed by Nurfitri Amir, a prominent activist and a paddy researcher
Farmers Are Not Lazy is directed by Nurfitri Amir, a prominent activist and a paddy researcher
In The Dark is a documentary about the daily lives, hopes and dreams of the visually-impaired who live and work amongst the hustle and bustle of Brickfields, KL
In The Dark is a documentary about the daily lives, hopes and dreams of the visually-impaired who live and work amongst the hustle and bustle of Brickfields, KL
On the set of Roots Of My Land (Selai Kayu Yek), the outcome of a three-year collaboration with FFF encompassing film bootcamps, human right and gender workshops and story labs
On the set of Roots Of My Land (Selai Kayu Yek), the outcome of a three-year collaboration with FFF encompassing film bootcamps, human right and gender workshops and story labs
On the set of In The Dark, a documentary about the visually impaired community in Brickfields
On the set of In The Dark, a documentary about the visually impaired community in Brickfields
On the set of Meniti Senja, a documentary about abandoned elderly people by gerontologist Lily Fu
On the set of Meniti Senja, a documentary about abandoned elderly people by gerontologist Lily Fu
Participants, producers and organisers at a sound design workshop
Participants, producers and organisers at a sound design workshop
Reviewing audio clips at a sound design workshop
Reviewing audio clips at a sound design workshop
German cinematographer Sebastian Winkels on set for Lily Fu's production, Meniti Senja
German cinematographer Sebastian Winkels on set for Lily Fu's production, Meniti Senja
Martin and Sebastian on set of Demi Paymitra, a documentary about the urban poor in Kuala Lumpur
Martin and Sebastian on set of Demi Paymitra, a documentary about the urban poor in Kuala Lumpur
French sound engineer Martin Gracineau conducted a workshop for film grant winners in 2019, supported by Goethe Institut and Alliance Francaise
French sound engineer Martin Gracineau conducted a workshop for film grant winners in 2019, supported by Goethe Institut and Alliance Francaise

Capacity-building workshops

Working with industry experts, we organise workshops for social filmmakers and civil society organisations. Working with them, we aim to explore new methods and mediums in effective and sustainable change.   

This includes workshops on story development, technical production skills, using film in education, using film with a strategic impact framework, and audio documentary workshops.

Social film archive

We have initiated efforts to archive 17 years of films, raw footage and documentaries in our international human rights festival for the use of educators, community leaders and civil society organisations.

This remains to be the only archive of human rights footage in Malaysia and is an ongoing effort.

Footages from social documentary production in Malaysia
Footages from social documentary production in Malaysia
Footages from community screenings in rural Malaysia
Footages from community screenings in rural Malaysia
Footages from roadshow and screenings from FFF in 2005
Footages from roadshow and screenings from FFF in 2005
Migrating videos and films from MiniDV
Migrating videos and films from MiniDV
Footages from roadshow and screenings in Johor
Footages from roadshow and screenings in Johor
A conversation with Tzang Merwyn Tong and Tan Pin Pin after the screening of Invisible City
A conversation with Tzang Merwyn Tong and Tan Pin Pin after the screening of Invisible City
The Great North Korean Picture Show, post-screening discussion
The Great North Korean Picture Show, post-screening discussion
A post-screening for Lembaga Puaka Nasir Jani
A post-screening for Lembaga Puaka Nasir Jani
A post-screening discussion with Tay Bee Pin, Neo Swee Lin and Lim Kay Siu for The four HDB Blocks of Siglap and Orang Singapura
A post-screening discussion with Tay Bee Pin, Neo Swee Lin and Lim Kay Siu for The four HDB Blocks of Siglap and Orang Singapura
Animating trauma and strength of HER stories in Southeast Asia, post-screening discussion with Kat Catalan, Norhayati Kaprawi and Kartika Pratiwi
Animating trauma and strength of HER stories in Southeast Asia, post-screening discussion with Kat Catalan, Norhayati Kaprawi and Kartika Pratiwi
Ayahku, Dr G post-screening discussion by filmmakers Jo Yee and Hidayah with Tengku Chanela Jamidah and Harish Kumar
Ayahku, Dr G post-screening discussion by filmmakers Jo Yee and Hidayah with Tengku Chanela Jamidah and Harish Kumar
A discussion on indigenous children who are left behind in their studies during the lockdown
A discussion on indigenous children who are left behind in their studies during the lockdown
A discussion on the realities of a fisherman's life and livelihood during the lockdown
A discussion on the realities of a fisherman's life and livelihood during the lockdown
A discussion on indigenous children who are left behind in their studies during the lockdown
A discussion on indigenous children who are left behind in their studies during the lockdown
Screening of Selai Kayu Yek at Pos Ber,Kelantan
Screening of Selai Kayu Yek at Pos Ber,Kelantan

Platforms for film screenings and engagement

Our international human rights documentary film festival showcases award-winning and cutting-edge human rights films from local, regional and international filmmakers. 

We believe that social films should not be passive. Each screening we organise is accompanied by a discussion, as nuances and context on issues of the day deserve to be delved into in-depth. We represent filmmakers and community voices to a wide range of audiences.

This includes the general public, policy-makers, lawyers, educators, academicians, farmers, social activists, worker’s rights activists, and marginalised communities such as the indigenous community, sex workers and the LGBT community.

The Film Censorship Act & You

Bebaskan Filem is a five-year campaign to reform media laws and policies to ensure freedom of expression is protected in films.   

We have begun legal and social research on the areas of reforms, initiated engagement with industry stakeholders, lawmakers and related official regulatory bodies, and producing relevant resource materials on this subject.

Forum on film regulation in the digital era organised by Freedom Film Network at Finas, Malaysia's national film development corporation
Forum on film regulation in the digital era organised by Freedom Film Network at Finas, Malaysia's national film development corporation
Behind the scenes of political documentary Nasir Jani Melawan Lembaga Puaka, on the complex culture of censorship in Malaysia with the cult-filmmaker of ‘Kembara Seniman Jalanan’
Behind the scenes of political documentary Nasir Jani Melawan Lembaga Puaka, on the complex culture of censorship in Malaysia with the cult-filmmaker of ‘Kembara Seniman Jalanan’
At LPF, Malaysia's Film Censorship Board
At LPF, Malaysia's Film Censorship Board

Address

FREEDOM FILM NETWORK
Unit A-2-6, 8 Avenue,
Jalan Sungai Jernih 8/1,
46050 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor, Malaysia

Phone

+603-6414 5086

Email

[email protected]

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