The National Art and Cultural Centre of the Georges Pompidou in Paris is currently showcasing the largest ever film screening entitled 'Malaysia and Singapore: The Cinema' from Malaysia and Singapore until March 1.

The screening done in collaboration with National Film Development Corporation of Malaysia (Finas) started on  Dec 18 and is aimed at  showcasing Malaysian and Singaporean films to the French public, a statement from Malaysian Embassy in Paris said.

The films were produced over a period of 50 years from the golden age of the Malay film industry in the 1950s and 1960s to the latest 'indie' films.

"The screening explores Malay films notably from the Shaw Brothers Malay Film Productions and Cathay-Keris studio produced in the 50s and 60s such as Penarek Becha directed by P Ramlee (1955), Sumpah Pontianak by BN Rao (1958), Sumpah Orang Minyak by P Ramlee (1958) and Hang Jebat by Hussain Haniff (1961).

"Apart from the oldies, Georges Pompidou Centre will also highlight contemporary producers such as the late Yasmin Ahmad, Amir Muhammad, Ho Yuhang and others," it said.

Among the contemporary Malaysian films that would be screened are Seman by Mansor Puteh (1988), Perempuan, Isteri dan... by U-Wei Haji Saari (1993), Rain Dogs by Ho Yuhang (2006), The Big Durian by Amir Muhammad (2003), Sepet by Yasmin Ahmad (2004), Gubra by Yasmin Ahmad (2005), Before We Fall in Love Again by James Lee (2006) and Karaoke by Chris Chong Chan Fui (2009).

- Bernama