FreedomFilmFest (FFF), Malaysia's leading human rights film festival, is back and proud to announce a diverse host of hard-hitting and courageous documentaries for 2017.

Returning to PJ Live Arts, this year's festival offers a compelling line-up of 40 must-see films, showcasing the very best of local and international talent, boldly uncovering some of the most prominent issues of our time.

FFF is also delighted to announce this year's programme schedule offering festival-goers the opportunity to get up close and personal with cutting-edge filmmakers from across the globe.

The festival is jam-packed with brand new interactive workshops, talks, food-tasting events and musical performances – all expertly curated to compliment the festival's film screenings.

This year's week-long festival (from Sept 2 to 9) will focus its attention on the UN Declaration of Human Rights and in particular, the recognition that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”.

With thought-provoking films and talks, focusing on globally relevant issues such as environmental degradation, ageing, food activism and countering extremism, FFF 2017 caters to everyone.

FFF is also offering a thrilling addition to the usual programme, debuting talent from Malaysia's newly formed Freedom Film Network (FFN). Established earlier this year, the FFN is an assertion to freedom of expression in an increasingly repressive media environment in Malaysia.

Home grown FFN filmmakers, including two winners from this year's FreedomFilmFest Grant, will take an in-depth look at local issues, including rapid development and its impact on flora and fauna in Penang, ('The Hills and The Sea'), the plights of Rohingya refugees in Malaysia ('Selfie With The Prime Minister'), the consequences of unilateral conversion ('Seeking Justice') and policies surrounding the much anticipated 14th general election ('Saving Malaysia').

As audience members witness this year's festival kick-off in Klang Valley, they will experience the arbitrary banning of another festival in China. Using behind-the-scenes footage, often tensely and secretively recorded on mobile phones, Chinese filmmaker Wo Wang's 'Filmless Festival' captures the rapid sequence of events leading to the shut-down of the 11th Independent Film Festival in Beijing.

Malaysians will be reminded of former FFF coordinator Lena Hendry, who is currently appealing her conviction and sentence over the screening of a Sri Lankan civil-war documentary back home in Malaysia.

Members of the public will likewise be treated to a host of edgy and award-winning international films, fresh from the festival circuit. Be inspired by people power and follow the incredible stories of grassroots activists in Barcelona (“Ada for Mayor” by Pau Faus) and Delhi (“An Insignificant Man” by Khushboo Ranka and Vinay Shukla) as they tirelessly campaign for social justice and succeed in bringing much needed reforms to mainstream politics.

Also not to be missed is the internationally acclaimed documentary “Sunday Beauty Queens” by Filipino director Baby Ruth Villarama, which intimately documents the struggles of overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong and how local beauty pageants are empowering the community.