Malaysian Chinese Association

Launching of BAFM Asian Cinema

Speech By Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun 27 July 2017, 11am

at Room 3, Mezzanine Floor, Wisma MCA HQ

Key Message: BAFM Asian Cinema set to take you on 29 journeys

Point 1: Top quality movies from Malaysia, Singapore Japan and Taiwan, await

Point 2: Daily shows from 1.15pm to 8pm Mondays to Saturdays for 3½ weeks

Dr Wong Oi Min, Dean of the Theatre Faculty, ASWARA

Mr Dennis Lai, representative of the Chinese Film Association of Malaysia,

Mr Ho Yuhang, Director of “At the End of Daybreak”,

Ms Jess Teong, Director of “The Kid from the Big Apple”

Ray Lee, Director of “Dendam Gadang”

Members of the Media

Welcome to our BAFM Asian Cinema. You are now seated in the very room which will become our BAFM Asian Cinema. And starting from 1^st August, movie goers in Kuala Lumpur are all invited to check us out, and we have lined up an array of 29 movies, documentaries and micro-movies to take you on a cinematic journey across cultures, delivering an immersing experience that will add value to your visit to our Blossom Art Festival Malaysia (BAFM) 2017 centred at Wisma MCA, Kuala Lumpur.

Movies are an important facet of society. They take us on a journey through the vision and inspiration of each director, telling a story which even though fictional, has telling underlying messages to the viewers. Due to this, movies may make us dig deep into our emotional senses – making us cry, laugh, angry and pleased – all within minutes as the director weaves his story.

We have 29 journeys for movie goers: 15 movies are from Malaysia, 11 from Taiwan, two from Singapore and one from Japan. And, every movie is screened free of charge, giving all visitors to Blossom Art Festival Malaysia 2017 an alternative experience of the senses, after immersing into the deeply meaningful displays of arts and crafts, performances and showcases.

Movies in the BAFM Asian Cinema will be screened daily from Aug 1 to 23 with the lunch matinee from 1,15pm to 1.45pm on Mondays to Fridays and

1pm to 1.30pm on Saturdays for microfilms and short movies.

Feature films will be screened from 2.15pm to 4pm, 4.15pm to 6pm and from 6pm to 8pm on Mondays to Saturdays.

There will be screening only on one August Sunday on 13 August with the screening time being 1.15pm to 1.45pm for short movies and microfilm, and feature films from 2pm to 4pm, 4pm to 5.30pm and from 6pm to 8pm. We strongly advise those working in the vicinity of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) to check out our BAFM Asian Cinema films instead of being stuch in peak traffic jam after office hours.

BAFM is able to create its Asian Cinema thanks to our sponsor, Sharp-Roxy Sales & Service Company (M) Sdn Bhd.

Sharp responded very quickly to our proposal, and has kindly loaned us its biggest, state-of-the-art and the World's first 8K resolution LED TV, which is 80-inches.

For those who are not technology savvy, the 8K resolution of this super high vision TV is 8-times clearer than the standard LED TV at the average Malaysian home. Your latest Ipad is only 3K resolution, and Malaysia’s TV stations broadcasting High Definition programmes, including Astro, delivers 1/8 clarity of what this TV is capable of displaying. Worldwide, only Japan has regular 8K TV broadcasts when NHK station covered the 2016 Rio Olympics in 8K medium.

Sharp claims that this TV will deliver viewers the experience of the best detailed picture quality with better sense of depths and immersion, with 40% richer colour compared to conventional TV. Its Ultra Dynamic Range Pro provides a better quality picture with enhanced contrast, N-Black panel ensures reduced light reflection, brighter and clearer colour reproduction, with richer black colour as well as higher contrast. It has Wi-Fi built in for Wireless Internet connectivity. Retail price: Call Sharp or enquire with your local electronics store.

Therefore, as chairman of BAFM 2017, I wish to express our sincerely thanks to Sharp-Roxy Sales & Service Company (M) Sdn Bhd for lending us this TV. I hope Sharp will be able to sell more of this TV after visitors had gained as appreciation of it at our BAFM Asian Cinema.

Hardware aside, the experience BAFM Asian Cinema will offer viewers 29 movies which are:

From Malaysia

Huat The Fish, a 114-minute drama directed by Silver Yee;
The Pirate & The Emperor’s Ship, a 65-min documentary directed by Khoo Eng Yow;
Ice Kacang Puppy Love, a 105-minute love story directed by Ah Niu;
At the End of Daybreak, a 94-minute drama directed by Ho Yuhang;
The Kid from the Big Apple, a 120-minute family movie directed by Jess Teong;
Dendam Gadang, a 60-minute drama directed by Ray Lee;
A Flower’s Eyes, a 14-minute short drama directed by Tham Wai Fook;
The Tin Star, an 8-minute documentary directed by Aaron Wong Kang Yong;
24 Festive Drums, an 8-minute documentary directed by Lee Shin Shyuan;
Legacy of Sungai Lembing, an 8-minute documentary, directed by Yap Yean Mei;
Li Fah Shi, a 12-minute microfilm directed by Wan Ismail Naqiuddin (Aswara);
UV, a 12-minute microfilm directed by Nor Syakira Mohd Pauzi;
Hangat Hangat Durian, a 27-minute microfilm directed by Jeffrey Loh Wai Yee
Mimpi Mah Meri, a 16-minute opera directed by Yu Chee Boon and Monir Murad; and,
Untaian, a 12-minute microfilm directed by M. Shuhaimi Zulkeiflu.

From Taiwan

Tomorrow Comes Today, a 90-minute drama directed by Chen Minlang;
Kung Fu Dunk; a 98-minute action comedy directed by Kevin Chu;
Fishing Luck, a 96-minute drama directed by Tseng Weng-Chen;
Cape No.7, a 133-minute drama directed by Wei Te-Sheng;
Orz Boys!, a 103-minute drama directed by Yang Ya-che;
Forever Love, a 125-minute romance comedy directed by Toyoharu Kitamura & Aozaru Shiao;
Go Grandriders!, a 90-minute documentary directed by Hua Tian Hao;
The Lost Kingdom, a 98-minute documentary directed by Xiangxiu Lee;
Breeze and Drizzle, a 25-minute drama directed by Jeyi-An;
Old Seafearer, a 25-minute documentary directed by Cheng Yu-Cheah;
Time for Dancing, a 60-minute documentary by a Hong Kong director;

From Singapore:

Grandma Positioning System, a 18-minute microfilm directed by Kelvin Tong; and,
Bunga Sayang, a 15-minute microfilm directed by Royston Tan.

From Japan:

Fireworks from the Heart, a 119-minute drama directed by Kunimoto Masahiro.

The movies and documentaries selected for the BAFM Asian Cinema has enigmatic stories to tell, all conveying the message of love, loyalty, ingenuity, family values and strife for life. This amplifies what we Malaysian face today in “Negaraku”, homeland to all Malaysians. We invite everyone to visit our BAFM Asian Cinema where our main feature is at 6pm nightly, with short movies for lunch break viewing at 1.15pm. See you all in the BAFM Asian Cinema. This includes our hardworking media. Thank you.

-MCA online-