Collaboration With Latin American Countries Will Further Boost Local Film Industry - FINAS

By Samntha Tan KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian National Film Development Corporation (FINAS) sees the collaboration with Latin American Embassies through film festivals as a strategic platform to further boost the local film industry. FINAS Deputy Director General, Khalidah Mohd, said that such a common effort would provide more market access not only to traditional markets but also new markets especially in Latin America. "It is a good platform for Malaysia's film industry to grow further and FINAS is looking forward to expand the local film industry growth by penetrating the global market to gain bigger market access, she told Bernama after launching the 15th Latin Anerucab Film Festival (LAFF), here Wednesday. She noted that for the first time Malaysia was invited as a guest country to participate in the LAFF from Nov 11 to 18, and that this was a great honour for the country. She said that FINAS expected the strategic partnership to not only provide tremendous opportunity for Malaysia and Latin America in film production but also in content development. "Besides benefiting Malaysia's film industry, it has a multiplier effect on the economy and also in terms of tourism, cultural and educational development," she added. Khalidah said that there were also opportunities in the exchange of expertise, technology as well as talent and script development, pointing out that FINAS was working to provide a conducive eco-system for the film industry covering all aspects from script development, talent training, funding, production, technology, commercialisation, distribution and promotion. "At one (collaboration) go, Malaysia could work with all Latin American countries namely Uruguay, Chile, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico and Peru," she added. Meanwhile Mexico's Ambassador to Malaysia, Carlos Felix Corona, described the 15th LAFF as as a window for Malaysian audiences to look into Latin America's cultural and reality. "We want to promote the vast and diverse Latin American culture to Malaysians as we share common things such as family values, education and community aspiration to gain a better life," he added. Peru Ambassador to Malaysia, Guido F Loayza, said it was a great experience to showcase Latin American films to Malaysians as well as foreigners at the 15th LAFF. "A movie is like an art and free expression of the people. This film festival is to express the reality and life in Latin American countries and show the audiences the other side of the world," he said. Organised by Latin American Embassies and Caribbean Countries in Malaysia, the 15th LAFF will be held at the Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC), featuring 10 films with a wide array of genres from drama to comedy, thrillers, historical and romance. This year would be a special edition as a Malaysian film will be shown for the first time under the 'guest country' category. The film 'Redha', directed by filmmaker Tunku Mona Riza is about autism and is inspired by real-life events. -- BERNAMA