MALAYSIA'S "SEPET" SLATED FOR CHENNAI FILM FEST

BY P.VIJIAN

CHENNAI, Dec 13 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian romantic comedy "Sepet" directed
by Yasmin Ahmad, which thrilled movie fans across the country, will now be
screened at the sixth Chennai International Film Festival (CIFF).

Meaning "slit eyes", Sepet set in northern Ipoh city and released in 2004,
will join two other Malaysian movies "Kala Malam Bulan Mengambang" (In the
Moonlight) and "Cinta" O(Love) at the international film festival.

"We are choosing the films on the basis of quality and find Malaysian
movies
are entertaining. This is the first time we are screening Malaysian movies
here," E. Thangaraj CIFF general-secretary told Bernama.

The three movies are out of some 100 films from 30 countries that are
participating in the sixth edition of the CIFF from Dec 17-26.

"Sepet" evolves around a Malay student and a young Chinese VCD seller who
fall in love, despite social pressures, but their romantic dream is short lived
and ends with the tragic death of the hero in a road mishap.

Mamat Khalid's "Kala Malam Bulan Mengambang" won Malaysia's best film
award this year and while "Cinta", a modern-day love story, is directed by Kabir
Bhatia.

Besides, famous movies like "The Song of the Sparrow" from Iran and Turkish
film "Three Monkeys" that won the Best Director award at the Cannes Film
Festival this year, are some of the other highlights.

The annual event is organised by the Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation and
supported by the Tamil Nadu government, which had sanctioned RM250,000 to
promote the event.
-- BERNAMA