Yasmin's work to front film fest in Melbourne

What say you on the issue below?

MELBOURNE: Highly acclaimed film producer and director Yasmin Ahmad may be gone but the tributes keep pouring in.

This year’s 3rd Australian-Malaysian Film Festival, to be held at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) here from Oct 4 to Oct 7, is a case in point.

It will open and close with the screening of her films Talentime and Muallaf (The Convert).

Behind the scenes: (From left) Farah, Ade and Stephens smiling for the camera in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday.

“It is to celebrate her world-class body of work, which was always rich in substance and even richer in integrity,” said Kate Stephens, one of the organisers of the festival.

Yasmin, 51, who died after a massive stroke on July 26, is often regarded as Malaysia’s most celebrated film export, as her films and advertisements had received many awards and special mentions at several prestigious international film festivals such as in Berlin, Cannes, Tokyo, San Francisco and Pusan.

Another organiser, Ade Djajamihardja, said Yasmin’s films were laced with positive messages on racial integration that cross conventional cultural barriers.

“Because of this trait, she was at times surrounded by controversy and harsh criticism.

“Nevertheless, Yasmin always remained stoic in her belief that all people are seen as equals in the eyes of God,” said Ade.

“When asked about the themes of each of her films, Yasmin would always declare that they were about humanity and love — the two most important elements of mankind. I am very proud to have known her personally as a friend,” he added.

The opening night, which will feature Malaysian music, dances and cuisine, will end with Yasmin’s Talentime, her most recent work.

At the Malaysian Film Festival earlier this year, she received the best director award for Talentime, a love story about an Indian boy and a mixed-race Malay girl who met and fell in love during a talentime contest.

“This marquee event will provide us with the opportunity to see some of Malaysia’s best movies and facilitate greater understanding of Malaysian society, history and culture from stories told through Malaysian eyes,” said Stephens.

This year’s film festival is also part of the inaugural “Malaysia Week” from Sept 27 to Oct 13, an initiative of various Malaysian student organisations in Australia to benefit some 7,500 Malaysian students in the country.

Festival media liaison officer Farah Azalea said the films chosen this year were from numerous genres ranging from comedy to animation, action adventure and melodrama.

They include Geng the Movie, Cicakman 2, and short film My Telatori, a work created by students of The One Academy of Malaysia, which won the Best Animation award at this year’s Malaysian Film Festival.