Abg Jo to lead delegation to Mumbai to promote film festival

KUCHING: Minister of Tourism Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg will be leading a delegation to Mumbai, India, next month from Oct 22 to 26 to promote the Asean International Film Festival and Awards (AIFFA) 2013, which will be hosted in Kuching next March.

In a press conference on Saturday announcing AIFFA 2013, Abang Johari said that there was a need to create awareness that Sarawak was teeming with beautiful scenery and locations for film projects.

“Sarawak also has a lot of local talents that must be developed. If you really expose them, they can become international class standard,” he said.

Abang Johari said that filmmaking was a specialised talent and with the right training and exposure in latest developments in filmmaking technology, Sarawak could achieve the same level of filmmaking as Hyderabad’s Ramoji Film City.

“As Tourism Minister, I don’t just want to make Sarawak a destination, but also a centre where we can encourage the growth of the film industry,” he said, adding that the state already has a performing arts school (Sekolah Seni).

During the trip to the Bollywood capital of India, Abang Johari will be attending film festival Cinemascapes, as well as attend workshops on ‘The Scenario Today for Cinema Tourism’.

He will be speaking at the Gala Awards Night of the 14th Mumbai Film Festival, giving a video presentation of AIFFA 2013 and on Sarawak.

“I will be speaking during one of these events, trying to attract producers to come over to Malaysia and Sarawak,” he said.

Among those present at the press conference are Tourism Ministry permanent secretary Datu Ik Pahon Joyik, AIFFA 2013 promoter/presenter Bjarne Wong and actress Sharifah Amani.

AIFFA 2013 will be held in Kuching from March 28 to 31 next year. It will feature appearances by Asean actors and actresses, and a short film competition. Malaysian actress Sharifah Amani will be one of the judges for the competition.

From Oct 2-3, Yasu Tanaka, who teaches Hollywood storytelling, scriptwriting, will be delivering a series of workshops on visual storytelling.

Held as one of the events leading up to AIFFA 2013, the workshops and seminars are created specially for Sarawakians who are interested in the film business.

Other events happening concurrently with the festival in March include ‘Worldstars – Road to Hollywood’ and ‘Golfing with the Stars’.

‘Worldstars’ is a talent search that will bring Malaysian winners to Hollywood to compete in the World Championship of Performing Arts’, the arts and entertainment version of the Olympics.

‘Golfing with the Stars’ will see top corporate leaders and filmmaking people playing in a golf tournament.

Sourced: theborneopost