Launch of FreedomFilmFest2009!

When most people will be fretting on getting last minute Valentine’s gifts last Saturday, the KOMAS team was busy setting up the Annexe, Central Market for it’s annual FreedomFilmFest 2009 (FFF09) launch.

This year’s launch, although without much fanfare, carried a very pertinent theme – ‘Real Change?’ The logo based on this year’s theme highlighted the reawakening of the people’s power ever since the March 8 general elections last year. Hence, a cartoon sketch of an empowered ordinary citizen was seen emerging from a cocoon with a video camera on hand!

The event signified the opening for submission of film proposals and completed films to the ‘Dare 2 Document’ film competition. From the start, the audience was wowed with a fast paced FFF09 Trailer video that highlighted key events of the FFF since its inception six years ago. The thematic film for the FFF09, on the other hand, is a short animation about the ‘journey’ of a seemingly ‘powerless’ caterpillar voter to an empowered citizen.

An interactive discussion with the audience on the theme followed soon after. The discussion, moderated by KOMAS’ Director Jerald Joseph, welcomed two guest commentators, Charles Santiago, Klang Member of Parliament and Jeffrey Phang, Friends of Kota Damansara, a Member of Coalition for Good Governance.

Dr. Thomas sharing in his own real change story.

Facilitator Jerald Joseph asked the audience to throw out their thoughts on significant milestones and issues over the past year. Among many views expressed, popular ones include the political state of the current Perak government and the use of Bahasa Malaysia as a national language.

Santiago touched on the issue of corruption while Phang pointed out that a change of mindset and heart of Malaysians to be the key for real change. KAS Representative in Malaysia, Thomas Knirsch shared a real change story of how his young son was impacted after viewing KOMAS’ production “Let’s Be an Activist - Mari Kita Beraktivism” so much so that he started a human rights club in his school!

For more information about FFF and the ‘Dare 2 Document’ competition, please visit here!