Introduction to Miffest
The 8th Malaysia International Film Festival (Miffest) is set to open with the Malaysian drama "Ninavau" directed by Bebbra Mailin. The festival, which takes place in Kuala Lumpur from July 19 to 27, will feature 62 films from 48 countries. This year’s lineup is an improvement from the 50 titles selected last year.
Opening and Closing Films
The opening film, "Ninavau", marks Mailin’s feature film debut and is based on a short direction she staged in 2019. The story revolves around a Kadazan woman who returns to her pious Catholic family, exploring cultural identity and a change of heart. On the other hand, the closing film, "Tranazonie", is directed by South African filmmaker Pia Marais and follows a young healer who is the daughter of a missionary deep in the Amazon jungle. "Tranazonie" was previously premiered at Locarno.
Awards and Recognition
Miffest will award the Hong Kong actor and martial artist Ti Lung with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Ti Lung is known for his numerous roles in Shaw Brothers Studio films, including "The Duel" and "The Blood Brothers", as well as John Woo’s classic "A Better Tomorrow" and its sequel. The festival will also screen "A Better Tomorrow" as part of its Master at Work section. Additionally, Indonesian actor Reza Rahadian will receive the award for Excellent Achievement in Film, recognizing his appearances in films such as "Habibie & Ainun", "My Stupid Boss", and the Locarno Golden Leopard winner "Revenge Belongs to Me, All Other Numbers Bar".
International Competition
The festival’s 9th edition of the international competition includes Georgi M. Unkovski’s "DJ Ahmet", which received an audience award at Sundance; Lotfi Achour’s "Red Way", winner of the best film and director at Red Sea; and Dong Zijian’s "My Friend, a Deafie", which premiered in Tokyo. The jury is headed by British filmmaker Asif Kapadia, who is known for his Oscar-winning documentary films "Amy", "Senna", and "Diego Maradona". Other jury members include Malaysian actress Diana Daniella, Hong Kong actress Jennifer Yu, Indonesian actor Reza Rahadian, and Indian filmmaker Rima Das.
Special Programs
The festival will also feature a spotlight on Indian cinema, celebrating the 100th anniversary of actor and director Raj Kapoor with a retrospective of his most famous titles. Furthermore, the festival will highlight female filmmakers from India with titles such as "Village Rockstars 2". A program of Hong Kong titles, including Jill Leung’s "Last Song for You" and Oliver Chan’s "Montage of a Modern Motherhood", will also be curated.
Miffest 2025: International Competition
- Everything That Remains of You (Nah-Cyp) – Dir. Cherien Dabis
- DJ Ahmet (N Mac-Czech-Seb-Cro) – Dir. Georgi M. Unkovski
- My Friend, a Deafie (China) – Dir. Dong Zijian
- Fatherly Vacation (GER-IT) – Dir. Alissa Jung
- Red Way (Tun-Fr-Bel-Pole-Sug-Qatar) – Dir. Lotfi Achour
- Soft Leaves (Bel) – Dir. Miwako van Weyenberg
- To an Unknown Country (Buddy) – Dir. Mahdi Fleifel
- Universal Language (May) – Dir. Matthew Rankin
- Winter in Sokcho (Fri) – Dir. Woya material
