Short film contest wants M’sians to dig deep
KAJANG: The key for Malaysians to appreciate the multicultural, multiethnic and multireligious makeup of the country is to understand the past, said Malaysian Chinese Culture and Arts Consultative Council chairman Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun.
This explained why exploring one’s roots was chosen as the theme of this year’s Blossom Arts Festival Malaysia ( BAFM) 2017 short film competition, she said.
“Deeper understanding of our roots is important today as our nation faces intense challenges in relationships between ethnic and religious groups,” said Chew at the launch of the contest at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman’s (UTAR) Sungai Long campus here.
Chew, who is also Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister, said she hoped that all Malaysians would not forget the shared struggle for independence and to establish Malaysia as a country.
“These required sacrifices from every ethnic group. The spirit of unity has prevailed because our country appreciates the contribution of every individual towards nationbuilding, irrespective of his or her ethnicity,” she said.
She said that although the BAFM 2017 short film competition is organised by the Chinese community, it is open to all Malaysians.
The name of the festival – Blossom Arts – suggests variety and diversity, she added.
With the aim to promote short films, Chew said the organisers hoped the contest could be a platform for amateurs to experience the joy of producing films.
The quality of Malaysian short films has improved, with some gaining international recognition, she added.
In conjunction with the competition, the Chinese Film Association Malaysia will conduct five work shops on short filmmaking.
The BAFM 2017 Short Film competition, jointly organised by UTAR, offers cash and other prizes worth RM37,000 in total.
For details, visit blossomshortfilm.wordpress.com or www.facebook.com/blossomartsfestival. The competition runs until July 31.