SARAWAK will be hosting the Asia-Pacific Film Festival next year, Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said.

He said the festival is planned for Miri, which is confirmed by Federation of Motion Picture Producers in Asia Pacific secretary-general Suhan Pansha and Malaysian Film Producers Association president Livan Tajang.

“On behalf of the ministry, we are happy to support this initiative for three reasons. Firstly, Sarawak will get more tourists and secondly, the Asia-Pacific Film Festival covers 22 countries in the region.

“Thirdly, it is organised by the same professionals who organise Aiffa (Asean International Film Festival and Awards) and Pansha had mentioned that he has been to many festivals and the best managed in this region is Aiffa in Kuching,” he said.

He said this in his text of speech, which was read out by Sarawak Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Snowdan Lawan during the Aiffa 2023 Filmbiz World ceremony in Kuching today.

Karim said the Aiffa Filmbiz World is a platform for film industry experts to share their knowledge and experience in the world of film.

“As part of this year’s Aiffa growth for Sarawak, I am also pleased to be informed that a new association was registered earlier this year, called Persatuan Kolektif Filem Sarawak or Sarawak Film Collective Association,” he said.

“Its objectives include the development of talent in Sarawak and safeguarding Sarawak’s film and TV industry standards via government policies.”

At today’s ceremony, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Sarawak Film Collective Association and Malindo Film Fund, an investment arm that is looking to invest via a film fund that will be opened to filmmakers in Malaysia and Indonesia. – Bernama, August 3, 2023.