India Night at MIFFest 2024 – Celebrating Cinematic Ties and Cultural Exchange

The inaugural “India Night” at the Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) was a highlight of this year’s festival, bringing together a constellation of film industry figures, including the celebrated South Indian actress and director Suhasini Maniratnam. This special event marked the collaboration between MIFFest 2024 and the Indian government, spotlighting the deep cultural and cinematic ties between India and Malaysia.

The evening was a vibrant celebration of the partnership between the Indian government, which served as the festival’s official supporting partner, and MIFFest. It featured a rich cross-cultural exchange, acknowledging the influential role of Indian cinema in Malaysia. The gathering saw a mix of producers, directors, actors, and industry personalities from both nations, all coming together to honour this unique connection.

Joanne Goh, founder and president of MIFFest, underscored the significance of the event, emphasising its role in promoting cultural exchange and celebrating cinema’s global impact. She highlighted how the rise of Indian cinema has attracted international filmmakers and fostered collaborative efforts across borders.

The Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia, BN Reddy, expressed his excitement about India being the partner country for MIFFest. He praised the filmmakers whose work has strengthened the bilateral relationship and praised the Malaysian government’s supportive policies that have bolstered this cinematic partnership. Reddy also acknowledged the contributions of the Indian diaspora and local film enthusiasts in enhancing the cinematic exchange. VIP guests at the event include Her Excellency Mdm Saraswathy Kandasami, Deputy Minister of National Unity, Dato’ R. Rajendran, Dato’ Dr. Shazelina Zainul Abidin, His Excellency Air Chief Marshal Sumangala Dias (High Commissioner of Sri Lanka) and Felix Chong.

 

 

The festival’s week-long agenda included notable seminars and forums, such as discussions on “Incentives for Films in India and Official Co-productions” and “Indian Cinema and its Notion.” The theme for MIFFest 2024 was “Uncaged”. 

Brriyan John & Sangeeta KrishnasamyThis year’s MIFFest presented an impressive array of 50 films from 30 countries, featuring more than 35 languages and screenings at various venues across Kuala Lumpur. The competition segment featured a distinguished jury panel alongside Suhasini Maniratnam, including Hong Kong screenwriter-director Felix Chong, respected Chinese professor-critic Zhang Xianmin and Thailand’s veteran film critic-director Kong Rithdee and Malaysia’s own Zul Ariffin, celebrated for his dynamic performances in film and television.

The festival’s competitive segment showcases new films from up-and-coming directors, featuring awards for best film as well as accolades for direction, cinematography, screenplay and acting.