EXCELLENT MIX OF MALAYSIAN CULTURE AND CUISINE FOR FILM FESTIVAL IN MELBOURNE

MELBOURNE, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- There will a beautiful blend of Malaysian
culture and cuisine at the opening of the five-day Australian Malaysian Film
Festival 2010 here on Oct 2.

The festival, in its third year, will feature some of Malaysia's best and
innovative films, while the Malaysia Kitchen scheme will provide tantalising
food to guests, mainly from the film industry and media.

Malaysian filmmakers and stars to be flown here by AirAsia X will include
Malaysian Film Festival 2008 Best New Director Hans Isaac, Malaysia's 2010 best
actress Liyana Jasmay and comedian Harith Iskandar.

Films to be screened over five days are Rabun (on opening night), The
Invigilator, 15Malaysia, Sell Out!, Niyang Rapik and Setem.

Malaysian Kitchen, an initiative by Matrade, will feature six Malaysian
restaurants here selected by Sydney-based Malaysian Trade Commissioner Ong Yew
Chee.

They are Penang Affair, Madam Kay Platz, Chilli Padi, Nyonya Hut, Old Town
Kopitiam Mamak and MiHub Cafe.

The festival will also feature short food films presented by Fried Chillies
Media which should draw much interest.

There will be a tribute exhibition by Malaysian-born Sydney-based visual artist
Kevin Bathman to honour the late award-winning director Yasmin Ahmad.

The festival, to be held at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image,
Federation Square, here, is promoted by the founders and directors of A2K Media
Ade Djajamihardja and his wife Kate Stephens.

Festival project manager is Farah Al Amin, a recent graduate of Monash
University's master's course in Film and Television and is now part of the A2K
Media team.

"Each year, we strive to better our film programming by not only featuring
award-winning Malaysian films, but also those that truly reflect the uniqueness
of Malaysia," Farah said.

"The films we present this year are truly Malaysian in all sense of the word.
It's Malaysian in language, its mannerisms, its attitudes and its dramas.

"We programme films that represent different sides of Malaysia. At times, the
representations and issues raised may be uncomfortable, but we invite people to
see the good, the bad and the ugly because that's what makes Malaysia unique in
our eyes."
-- BERNAMA