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Programme Title: S-Express: Malaysia
Tickets at $5 / 7 (conc. for students, NSFs, SFS members and Friends of The Substation)
20th September, Sunday, noon – 1pm
Venue: The Substation Theatre
Total runtime: 48 min
Session is rated PG
Curated by: Amir Muhammad
A writer and independent filmmaker based in Kuala Lumpur. Amir has been writing for the Malaysian print media since the age of 14. In 2000, he wrote and directed Malaysia’s first DV feature, and his works have been featured in many international film festivals including Sundance and Berlin. He has also helped produce several other Malaysian DV movies. He has since moved into publishing and is running Matahari Books.
Introduction
A few months ago I attended a screening of shorts that was held outdoors, under a half-completed highway. It was organized by a bunch of friends. It was raining and the ground was muddy, but dozens of people stayed back to watch, and feast on the food too. All the shorts were in Tamil, the smallest of the main languages in Malaysia.
The screening reminded me so much of how ‘independent cinema’ in Malaysia used to be, before people started getting too interested in silly things like foreign film festivals or box-office returns. A lot of the fun has been sucked dry, which is one of the main reasons I now publish books! There’s nothing like retreating to a 19th century medium to recharge oneself.
All except one of these shorts are being presented outside the country for the first time. I hope you dig them! |
1) Machai
2009 / 16min / Shanjhey Kumar Perumal / RATINGS TBA
Synopsis:
K.L becomes Kay Hell for cousins Kali and Dass who were down visiting their uncle Bull Dog Maniam for the school holidays, but ended up being forced to become his “Machai” (Apprentice) in his business. Though they were able to survive the storm, see why today is an unlucky day.
Director’s Statement:
I use to hang out at my friends village in Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur. One day I heard that soon the settlement will be abolished to make way for new development, ”Gosh! They are gonna lose the only living thing in the middle of this concrete jungle.“
It struck me that I should do a documentation on this place. Instead of doing a normal serious documentary, why not a fun-filled story based on multiracial “kampong” life? That’s how “Machai” was born.
Director’s Bio:
Shanjhey Kumar Perumal studied communication in Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang. Till date he has done only 5 shorts. (What a shame!). Working as TV Director and Screenwriter for his rice-bowl, he did several Malay children programmes, musicals and variety shows His recent top-rated Tamil TV Serial “Tuppariyum Puli” was the first Malaysian made serial to be broadcast in India and broke the stereotype that all Malaysian Tamil serials should contain family sentiments and be full of tears!
Contact:
shanjhey@yahoo.com |
2) Thaipoosam
2006 / 4min / Shanjhey Kumar Perumal / RATINGS TBA
Synopsis:
The Hindu festival of Thaipoosam takes place every year in Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur.
Director’s Statement:
I was shooting a normal Thaipoosam documentary as event coverage for a company, and I saw from the top view, several incidents happening at the same time. So I thought of doing a poetic video based on the social, economic, cultural and other factors affecting the people. Thaipoosam is normally associated with colour, so by using only black & white I wanted people to think of other dimensions.
Director’s Bio:
Shanjhey Kumar Perumal studied communication in Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang. Till date he has done only 5 shorts. (What a shame!). Working as TV Director and Screenwriter for his rice-bowl, he did several Malay children programmes, musicals and variety shows His recent top-rated Tamil TV Serial “Tuppariyum Puli” was the first Malaysian made serial to be broadcast in India and broke the stereotype that all Malaysian Tamil serials should contain family sentiments and be full of tears!
Contact:
shanjhey@yahoo.com |
3) 13 : 17
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2009 / 14min / Sasitharan Rajoo / RATINGS TBA
Synopsis :
Sujay just bought a video camera and brings it to Wicky's house to show off his new toy. In the midst of this he gets tangled in the couples fight between Wicky and Reena. But scarier things will happen before the night is through…
Director's Statement:
This single-take short is inspired by incidents that took place when I was in college. The girls who went for a college camping trip returned back ahead of schedule. One of the officials told me that it started with one girl screaming and wiggling her body like a fits attack and it spread to her friends who are girls only. They started to attack the other officials targeting their necks. This story plus a nightmare I had about my mother being possessed in a strange room made me combine the story and come up with 13:17.
Director's Bio:
Sasitharan Rajoo is a graduate from Malaysian Institute of integrative Media (MIIM) with Diploma in Multimedia Production, He has since been involved in a number of foreign and local television commercials.He moved to television production, as an editor, director, cameraman as well as a scriptwriter for various TV programmes, including AR Rahman Unity of Light concert.’ In the midst of all that, he also produces, directs and acts in his own and friend’s short films.
Contact:
sasifcp@gmail.com |
4) 18MP
2006 / 14min / Anonymous / RATINGS TBA
Synopsis:
Malaysian politicians say the darn-est things after watching the banned documentary The Last Communist.
Contact:
info@dahuangpictures.com |
