Budiey
An ASEAN Premiere Event Happening in Borneo!
Inviting all Filipino film-makers, actors and film buffs to experience “The ASEAN Premiere” just around the corner in Borneo.
Manila, Philippines, January 11, 2013 – Where but a film festival can you enjoy the full ASEAN cultural spectrum, films of all genres and the art of film-making? The first-ever ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards 2013 (AIFFA 2013) is a prestigious three-day event to be held in Sarawak’s capital city, Kuching on March 28 to 30, 2013.
AIFFA 2013’s roadshow which was held at Dragon Bistro at 6.00pm in the buzzing city of Manila, Philippines saw many interested filmmakers eager to participate in the festival. The festival will see film-makers from all over ASEAN, Bollywood and Hollywood gather to share their skills with fans alike.
Renowned actress and singer Glaiza de Castro and singer Abby Asistio were also present during the Manila’s roadshow. Famous for his award as Best Director at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival in 2009, Brillante Mendoza was also eager to participate in AIFFA 2013.
The three-day event will include screenings of films from ASEAN and outside ASEAN. On the cards are also seminars and exhibitions which will benefit film-makers not to mention entertain and educate audience members.
This inaugural Festival is designed to:
1. Bring all ten ASEAN nations together in a celebration of film, film-makers and their respective residents
2. Encourage cooperation and collaboration among film-makers from the ASEAN nations
3. Provide an exchange network and marketing program for films among ASEAN countries
4. Promote tourism among ASEAN countries
5. Give due recognition to films and film-makers with outstanding achievements in ASEAN cinema
The AIFFA 2013 seminar and exhibition, occurring on the second day of the festival (March 29, 2013) will have renowned producers from Hollywood such as Gary Levinsohn, nominated for an Oscar for his work in Saving Private Ryan. He will shed light on various aspects on the art and business of film-making. His other film credits include The Patriot, Snakes on a Plane, Twelve Monkeys and many more.
Amongst other Hollywood producers who will be guest speakers at AIFFA 2013 seminar include Kymber Lim, a visual-effects producer for various prominent movies like Tron: Legacy, 2012, Spider-Man 2 and Christopher Chen, producer, Co-Founder & Executive Vice President of Business Development of Endgame Entertainment. Endgame Entertainment had produced a string of famous films, including Looper, Hotel Rwanda and Lord of War.
Several leading Indian film-makers, including Ekta Kapoor of Baluji Studios will be attending the festival and will be speaking on how ASEAN can work together with Bollywood. Location managers from Bollywood will also be in attendance to check the booths of various ASEAN countries and find out more about filming locations around the region.
According to Livan Tajang, festival director of AIFFA 2013, the impressive lineup of experienced film-makers from various backgrounds will provide an opportunity for Filipinos to network with international and regional personalities from the same industry and also showcase their films to a global audience.
“AIFFA 2013 provides the gateway for Filipinos to present their thriving film industry to the ASEAN market as well as the world and it is a great platform in terms of networking.”
“We hope to position all ten ASEAN members nations as a unified artistic voice, to be seen as a major player in film production and to have this Festival be a highlight in the global film festival circuit.”
“The festival aims to create awareness to the two leading film industries, namely Hollywood and Bolllywood about ASEAN’s booming movie industry. We are not just looking at films that have been premièred but we are encouraging independent film-makers to submit their films for our Feature Film Festival & Awards’, she said.
Submissions for the Feature Film Festival which runs from now till February 15, 2013. This part of the Festival is open to all film-makers in and out of ASEAN. Many of the nominated films will be screened on the first day of AIFFA 2013, otherwise known as ‘Movies in the Rainforest’ night – a unique movie experience where Dayak longhouses will be used as theatres.
Among entries submitted by Filipino filmmakers are Ang Mga Kidnapper ni Ronnie Lazaro, The Animals, In Bangka Ha Ut Sin Duwah Sapah and many more.
A film jury will deliberate over all nominated films screened over the three days for awards to be presented at the AIFFA 2013 Gala Night on March 30, 2013. Themed ‘Black and White Borneo’, it is a red-carpet occasion that will usher in the presence of celebrities, film-makers, dignitaries from the ASEAN region as well as dignitaries from Malaysia, its host country.
Awards include the ASEAN Spirit Award, Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Foreign Film (Outside ASEAN) and many more.
Apart from the submission of feature films, AIFFA 2013 also launched a short-film competition in July 2012 and it has been an ongoing effort through submission by participants on AIFFA 2013’s official website: www.aseanfilmfest.com.
The short film competition is divided into two categories. First a short-film competition catered specifically to students and the other, open to the public. Themed ‘Naturally Beautiful ASEAN’, the competition for short films aims to incorporate all elements related to ASEAN.
AIFFA 2013 is endorsed by the Ministry of Tourism Sarawak and is fully supported by the Ministry of Information, Communications & Culture Malaysia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia (ASEAN-Malaysia National Secretariat), as well as the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS).
Highlights of AIFFA 2013 include:
March 28, 2013 :
Welcome Dinner and ‘Movies in the Rainforest’ at Sarawak Cultural Village
March 29 & 30, 2013 :
Karnival Rakyat at Kuching Waterfront
March 29 & 30, 2013 :
Film Exhibition & Seminar at Pullman Hotel, Kuching
March 30, 2013 :
Golfing with the Stars in Borneo at Kelab Golf Sarawak
March 30, 2013 :
Gala Night at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching
PRELUDE EVENTS FOR AIFFA 2013
OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF AIFFA 2013
May 25, 2012
Guest of Honour: YB Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, Minister of Tourism Sarawak
SHORT FILM COMPETITION LAUNCH
July 11, 2012
Guest of Honour: YB Datuk Gramong Juna, Assistant Minister of Tourism Sarawak
Special guest: Mr Brian Tan
WAYANG PACAK WATERFRONT
September 14-16, 2012
Special guests: Sharifah Amarni, Bjarne Wong
FILM WORKSHOP SERIES
Visual Storytelling by Yasu Tanaka
October 20, 2012
PASSAGE TO MUMBAI
October 22-25, 2012
AIFFA2013 delegation and local film producers attended the Mumbai Film Festival.
Delegation headed by YB Datuk Amar Abang Johari, Minister of Tourism Sarawak
FILM APPRECIATION WORKSHOP BY FINAS
November 2, 2012
DOCUMENTARY FILM PRODUCTION WORKSHOP BY FINAS
November 26-30, 2012
VISIT TO ASEAN EMBASSIES IN KUALA LUMPUR
AIFFA 2013 PROMOTIONAL ROADSHOWS
Jakarta, Indonesia
(December 11-13, 2012)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
(December 28, 2012)
Singapore
(January 10, 2013)
Manila, Philippines
(January 11, 2013)
Bangkok, Thailand
(January 20, 2013)
Hanoi, Vietnam
