The ninth Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) began on July 18 at MyTown Shopping Centre in Kuala Lumpur, launching an eight-day celebration of international cinema. The opening night also brought official recognition from ASEAN Records, adding a notable milestone to the festival’s latest edition.
Filmmakers, industry figures and guests gathered for the ceremony, where festival founder and president Joanne Goh welcomed attendees alongside ambassadors Bront Palarae, Daiyan Trisha and Jack Tan. Goh said this year’s theme, Resonance, was meant to reflect the emotional impact stories leave behind and the way films continue to spark conversation across cultures, generations and borders.
The event also included remarks from Datuk Manoharan Periasamy of Tourism Malaysia, who reaffirmed support for MIFFest’s role in strengthening the country’s creative sector and cultural diplomacy. Other attendees included Datuk Bahria Mohd Tamil of the Ministry of Communications and Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib, CEO of FINAS. Goh also presented tokens of appreciation to the festival ambassadors during the ceremony.
ASEAN platform recognized, opening film premieres
The night’s central moment was the presentation of the ASEAN Records title to MIFFest, honoring its ASEAN On Screen platform and the Malaysia Golden Global Awards as a lasting showcase for Southeast Asian cinema. Goh accepted the recognition on behalf of the festival and noted that ASEAN On Screen was created to help regional stories reach wider audiences. The program, launched in 2025 during Malaysia’s ASEAN chairship, has since become a permanent annual part of MIFFest.
After the ceremony, guests attended the world premiere of the opening film, Baga: Tomorrow Belongs To No One, directed by Ariff Zulkarnain. Set in a fishing community on Malaysia’s East Coast, the film follows two young lovers whose future is derailed by an unplanned pregnancy, poverty and addiction. This year’s edition also features Russian Film Week, ASEAN On Screen, Hong Kong Cinema in Flux, New Rhythms of Indian Cinema, Open Air Cinema, masterclasses and industry forums. The festival runs through July 25.
Source: variety.com
