'Pesta TUT' to reconsider impact of film censorship - FFN
As part of its ongoing initiative towards building a better system to develop and regulate Malaysian films, the Freedom Film Network (FFN) has launched a mini-film festival dubbed "Pesta TUT (Tak Usah Tutup-Tutup).
Part of its aim includes encouraging Malaysians to reconsider the impact of censorship on socially relevant films in Malaysia, covering sensitive issues such as atheism, alcohol, abortion, women's sexuality, communism, racism and socio-political commentary.
FFN co-founder Brenda Danker said the group - representing a community network of social filmmakers - want Malaysians to...
As part of its ongoing initiative towards building a better system to develop and regulate Malaysian films, the Freedom Film Network (FFN) has launched a mini-film festival dubbed "Pesta TUT (Tak Usah Tutup-Tutup).
Part of its aim includes encouraging Malaysians to reconsider the impact of censorship on socially relevant films in Malaysia, covering sensitive issues such as atheism, alcohol, abortion, women's sexuality, communism, racism and socio-political commentary.
FFN co-founder Brenda Danker said the group - representing a community network of social filmmakers - want Malaysians to reflect if there’s a need to censor content that reflects critically on the realities of living in Malaysia.
"Is there space for filmmakers to tell honest stories about Malaysia?
"Where is the freedom for audiences to choose and consume content of their own choice, without the intervention of the state? " Danker said in a statement over the weekend.
FFN, host of Freedom Film Fest, - an annual human rights documentary film festival - noted that the elements censored from local films were common "ingredients" in popular Hollywood blockbusters, Korean serials or Netflix series.
As such, the group said discussions held as part of "Pesta TUT" also aim to discuss whether censorship, as an imposed mandatory protection, serves as a "necessary evil" in Malaysia.
"We hope to engage and gather feedback from all stakeholders and share it with policymakers and also with the Home Ministry that regulates many of the laws affecting freedom of expression and censorship," added Danker.
Ten Malaysian movies that have been either officially or unofficially censored are available for online viewing from Nov 26 to Dec 5.
Earlier today, it was revealed in Parliament that six films were not approved for screening by the Film Censorship Board (LPF) last year, and another title was banned this year.
According to Deputy Home Minister Ismail Mohamed Said, the films 'Daulat', 'Real Love', 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan', 'Pallu Padama Paathuka', 'White Eye' and 'Boluomi' were banned in 2020 and 'The Battle At Lake Changjin' was banned this year.
Ismail also said LPF adopted the Home MinistryFilm Censorship Guidelines 2010 in the censorship process by emphasising four main aspects, namely public safety and order, religious sensitivities, socio-culture as well as manners and decency.
