Japanese Film Festival to launch 17th edition in Malaysia this October
30 Sep – Despite the pandemic, the 17th edition of the Japanese Film Festival (JFF) is all set to be held in Malaysia from this October to November.
This marks the first film festival to be held at GSC since the Movement Control Order (MCO) was enforced in March.
Moviegoers need not worry, however, as JFF 2020 will adhere to the SOPs mandated during the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) in order to ensure everyone's safety.
His Excellency Oka Hiroshi, Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia, assured so during his welcome speech at the press conference held earlier today.
It was revealed at the press conference that this year's lineup will be made up of 10 titles, including "One Summer Story", which is making its premiere in Malaysia ahead of its 2021 Japanese release, and "Talking the Pictures", Masayuki Suo's directorial work that will also serve as JFF 2020's opening film.
Though the film festival officially launches next month, a Pre-Festival Event marked its beginning earlier this month.
"JFF 2020 first kicked off in September with a pre-festival screening at GSC NU Sentral with three movies, which was very well received with almost full occupancy, and this reflects Malaysian audience's appetite for good Japanese movies," said Ms. Koh Mei Lee, Chief Executive Officer of Golden Screen Cinemas Sdn. Bhd.
Meanwhile, Dato' Kamil Othman, Executive Director of Limkokwing Film Academy, likened the film festival to breaking fast. After a long period of refraining from going to cinemas for movies due to MCO, now cinephiles can celebrate the end of the drought by enjoying movies on the big screen, as intended.
JFF 2020 will first be held in the Klang Valley area (GSC Mid Valley, GSC 1 Utama, GSC NU Sentral) from 15 to 21 October, followed by Penang (GSC Gurney Plaza) from 22 to 25 October, and Johor Bahru (GSC Paradigm Mall JB) from 29 October to 1 November.
It will then wrap up after a simultaneous run in East Malaysia, namely Kuching (GSC CityONE Megamall) and Kota Kinabalu (GSC Suria Sabah), from 12 to 15 November.
Tickets, priced at RM9.50 each, will be available for purchase starting from this 8 October.
Further details on film festivals in Malaysia can be found HERE.
