KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 — Experiencing international cinema is a surreal journey—an opportunity to step into worlds shaped by different cultures, perspectives and voices.

Each country offers stories that are uniquely its own, yet universally resonant, connecting audiences across the globe.

The Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) was created to serve as that vital bridge between the global film industry and local audiences—fostering cultural exchange while offering filmmakers a platform to showcase their work.

This year, MIFFest returns for its ninth edition, set to take place from July 18 to 25 in Kuala Lumpur under the new theme “Resonance”.

Envisioned by its founder and president, Joanne Goh, the theme sees cinema as a living exchange—where stories go beyond the screen, sparking conversations, building empathy, and raising thought-provoking questions.

These ideas reverberate quietly, then powerfully, across borders and generations.

Building on this year’s theme, MIFFest welcomes both familiar faces and fresh additions as ambassadors.

Acclaimed Malaysian star Bront Palarae returns for his seventh consecutive year, continuing his longstanding journey with the festival.

Daiyan Trisha joins for her second year, while newcomers Jack Tan and Zizan Razak bring fresh energy and perspectives to this year’s edition.

“To come back, I feel like I can learn so much more, meet everyone in the region, learn about other people’s cultures, languages, and also represent my country in this Southeast Asia cinema hub,” Daiyan said at the ninth MIFFest press conference today at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Kuala Lumpur.

Jack added, “MIFFest is important, and it’s not just about showing films. It’s a platform for people from different cultures to tell stories.”

Return of ‘Asean on Screen’ and collaboration with Asian World Film Festival

Following its successful debut last year, the “Asean On Screen” programme returns for its second year, continuing its mission to celebrate Southeast Asian storytelling.

Building on this momentum, MIFFest expands its regional vision through a strategic collaboration with the Asian World Film Festival 2026 (AWFF).

As part of this partnership, AWFF will introduce a dedicated segment, “Focus on Asean Countries, Presented by MIFFest,” where selected films curated under Asean On Screen will be showcased.

Expanding global dialogues and new collaborations: Kampong Film Lab and Roskino

The festival will continue to deepen its collaboration with the High Commission of India in Kuala Lumpur and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of India.

New collaborations include Kampong Film Lab, an initiative by the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (JAFF) that nurtures emerging filmmakers through mentorship, training and hands-on project development.

An AI-focused programme for emerging filmmakers will be launched across both MIFFest and JAFF platforms as part of this partnership.

Another collaboration is with ROSKINO and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation to present a curated programme, Russian Film Week, at its ninth edition.

The programme will feature five contemporary Russian films from 2025 to 2026, each screened once during the festival.

Beyond the screens

Beyond films, MIFFest will expand with Algorithmic Organisms 2.0, an immersive audiovisual exhibition introduced by Goh and presented by Jazzy Group, with support from the National Art Gallery Malaysia.

Created by Dutch musical artist Ray Tijssen (0010x0010), the installation explores the intersection of art and technology through a multisensory experience.

It will take place from July 4 to 19 at The Grey Box, GMBB Kuala Lumpur, and is currently being positioned as Malaysia’s first large-scale AI generative art experience.

Details of this year’s film selection will be unveiled in the coming months as the event prepares to welcome audiences, creators and industry professionals to an eight-day showcase celebrating cinema, culture and meaningful exchange.

“Films do not end when the screen fades to black, they echo in conversations, in memory, and in the quiet hope of those seeking dignity and truth,” Goh said.

“At MIFFest, these echoes converge, amplifying the courage of storytellers and the urgency of their voices.”

“Anchored in purple, the theme colour symbolising depth, introspection and transformation, this year’s key visual features flowing waves shaped by light and lens reflections, representing the reverberations of cinema and its quiet yet lasting influence on society,” she added.