Freedom Film Fest in Penang

We heard of the May 13 riot but not many of us heard of the Sabah riot.

Yes, there was a riot in 1986 in Sabah (after the 1985 state election), where fish bombs were detonated at cities and towns and buildings burned.

Five people died as a result.

If you want to know how it happened and why it happened, come to the Freedom Film Fest in Penang to watch ‘The Silent Riot’.

‘The Silent Riot’ is only one of the many gripping and exciting film lined up for the Freedom Film Fest in Penang this weekend.

Once again, the Freedom Film Fest (FFF) is back inPenang, to be held during this weekend.

Freedom Film Fest is an annual human rights festival, organized by Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat (Komas).  This year, the theme is ‘Democracy – Who is the boss?’.

Three award-winning films will be screened on both days – 5 October at Summit Hotel, Buttterworth and 6 October at Town Hall, Esplanade, Penang.

They are ‘The Silent Riot’ by Nadira Illana ‘Rights of the Dead’ by Tricia Yeoh, and ‘MCM – Utopia, Milik Siapa?’ by Boon Kia Meng. On both days, the film-makers of these three movies, will be present for a interactive discussion with audience.

On 5 October, the first screening will start at 8.00pm, while on 6 October, it will start at 11.00am, and last through the night. Entrance is through a minimum donation of RM10.00 for the whole day.

After the first screening on 6 October, there will be a ‘Creative Activism Workshop’, where participants will get to learn more about activism and how to go about it in a creative manner. There will also be sharing of successful and unsuccessful campaign on activism by seasoned activists like Choo Chon Kai, central committee of PSM.

The children are not left out, when they can attend a ‘Children Creative Play’ workshop titled ‘I can stand UP for myself’.  This workshop is open to children age 10 – 18 years, and it is a workshop that seek to empower children to find their inner voice through creative play. Two movies about children will also be screened.

All details of the event in Penang can be found on its Facebook  page.