KUALA LUMPUR – Organisers remain unfazed despite inspections by the Home Ministry at the FreedomFilmFest in the PJ Live Arts Centre last night, adding that the “show will go on”.
FreedomFilmFest posted on X that the Home Ministry paid the event a “friendly visit” with a photo showing officials speaking to the event organisers.
FreedomFilmFest executive director Anna Har told Scoop it was just another day in the office for them as the Home Ministry inspects their events every year.
She added that ministry officers from Putrajaya visited them on Saturday while those from the Selangor branch dropped by last night.
“They came because the Film Censorship Act 2002 is under the Home Ministry’s purview and all films screened in public must first go through a censorship review.
“However, this doesn’t apply to films being streamed online. So, we recognise the law as such and we stream the films at our event as well.”
She said although the inspection did not result in stopping the event, such actions are unnecessary given the Film Censorship Act is an archaic form of legislation.
Also, due to the presence of students, international guests and filmmakers, she said having officers in uniform at the event sends out the wrong message.
FreedomFilmFest organisers told the Home Ministry officers that coming in with uniform might make the audience feel uncomfortable and they agreed to come back in plain clothes.
“They were quite civil and kindly asked to see our facilities. But, I still think they shouldn’t do this.
“What we are doing at our event is educating the public on human rights and showing award-winning documentaries. In fact, today the content we showed was on Palestine,” said Har.
The FreedomFilmFest has been ongoing at the PJ Live Arts Centre since Saturday and will host events every weekend in August.
According to a tweet reposted by FreedomFilmFest, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil and Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Malaysia Timo Goosmann were present at Saturday’s event.
The films, War and Justice, Three Promises, Do Our Voices Matter? Lessons from International Solidarity Movements Against War & Genocide and Home Sweet Home screened on Sunday. – August 5, 2024