The 10th Freedom Film Festival, themed ‘Democracy: Who’s the boss?’, was launched on Monday night to select three best entrants.

Participants are required to submit a proposal for a 20-minute film by April 1. They will be awarded RM6,000 and technical support in producing their documentary films, which will be screened in September.

Related activities include video workshops and a road-show in colleges.

NONE Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat (Komas) board member Jerald Joseph (left) , speaking at the launch, said the film festival “encourages people to overcome fear and do a short film on human rights”.

Executive director Tan Jo Han said that, although the timing of the next general election is unclear, the theme remains relevant at all times.

“This question is always on our minds and should always be in the heads and minds of the politicians, whichever side they are on. Don’t you agree?” he asked the audience of about 80 people, who responded in the affirmative.

The annual film festival has seen the production of such documentaries as ‘The Invisible Children’, which documents the plight of some 9,000 refugee  children in Malaysia, and ‘Clean Shit', about a young woman’s fight against the proposed construction of a mega-incinerator in Broga.

At a forum held in conjunction with the launch, Selangor exco member Rodziah Ismail named different types of democracy, and described how the Selangor government has taken public input into account in making decisions.

NONE Student leader Adam Adli Abd Halim made the argument that democracy in Malaysia is of the top-down variety, and has failed to include the people’s voice.

Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung vice-president Yusri Ahon lamented that the government only engages the tok batin (headman) in making decisions, rather than the whole village.

‘We are the boss!’

NONE Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan deputy president M Arumugam (right) described the hardships he has faced in trying to obtain land titles for the urban poor.

He suggested that all elected representatives must reside in their constituencies, attend to every issue raised, and visit their constituents every few months instead of only when an election is looming.

The audience applauded the suggestion, and a member of the floor added that this should be extended to local councillors as well.

The event concluded with those present holding up placards and banners, shouting “Democracy!” and “We are the boss!”.