KUALA LUMPUR, July 19 — The ninth Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) opened last night at MyTown Shopping Centre, ushering in eight days of screenings, red carpet glamour and global storytelling from July 18 to 25.

Embodying the theme of ‘Resonance’, the launch ceremony brought together filmmakers, jury members, and celebrities, who graced the red carpet united by a shared passion for storytelling and film.

Festival founder Joanne Goh reflected on the event’s growth over the past nine years.

“This is like a nine-year-old baby, and it’s growing.

“I’ve seen MIFFest expand every year, attracting not only local audiences but also international visitors who come to Malaysia during the festival period.”

“I’m really happy to keep going and bring more Malaysian films and our culture to the international platform.

“This is my mission,” she concluded.

Festival ambassadors Bront Palarae, Daiyan Trisha, and Jack Tan — three of MIFFest’s four ambassadors — were among the personalities in attendance, celebrating another milestone for the festival.

Returning ambassador Bront said MIFFest continues to hold a special place in his heart.

“Why I keep coming back is because I believe in what MIFFest is,” he said.

“I’m very excited not only because we get to celebrate great work, but we also get to reconnect with long-lost friends and family, while meeting new friends who become family.”

“It’s always an amazing feeling to see new faces and familiar ones, and to get to know more filmmakers,” added Daiyan.

She shared that MIFFest plays an important role in showcasing Malaysia’s film industry on the international stage while allowing local filmmakers to learn from different cultures and stories.

Jack described the festival as “a family gathering” and encouraged aspiring filmmakers to pursue their dreams.

“I hope to inspire new filmmakers.

“Don’t be afraid to think big, stay focused, believe in yourself, and make a movie,” he said.

The opening ceremony also featured remarks from Tourism Malaysia Chairman YBhg. Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, who reaffirmed his support for MIFFest’s role in strengthening Malaysia’s creative industry, promoting cultural exchange, and raising the country’s profile on the international film stage.

The opening film sets the tone

The evening culminated with the world premiere of the Malaysian feature Baga: Tomorrow Belongs To No One.

Directed by Ariff Zulkarnain, and produced by Syafiq Kyle and Syafiq Yusof, Baga is set in a conservative seaside village on Malaysia’s East Coast.

It follows young lovers Jani and Melur as they navigate an unexpected pregnancy, poverty, addiction, and the harsh realities of their surroundings.

The film stars Amir Ahnaf, Amirah Razak, Wan Hanafi Su, Fad Anuar, Mat Over, and Zalif Side.

“We have been waiting two years for this film to be screened to the public,” Zulkarnain shared.

“This is a personal film, but through collaboration with everyone involved, it became something shared.

“We all wanted to tell this story through a lens of realism, which is why Baga is a new neo-noir drama,” he said.

Baga embodies this year’s festival theme, “Resonance, highlighting how powerful stories continue to echo long after audiences leave the cinema.

Star-studded programme

This year’s edition will honour acclaimed South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong with the festival’s lifetime achievement award.

Two of his celebrated films, Oasis and Peppermint Candy, will also be screened during the festival.

Chinese actor and martial artist Wu Jing has been named this year’s actor in focus, and his latest feature, Blades of the Guardians, is included in the programme.

The Asean On Screen section this year features six regional films: Vietnam’s Bury Us in a Lone Desert, Indonesia’s Dopamine, Thailand’s Phra Ruang: Rise of the Empire, the Philippines’ Republic of Pipolipinas, Malaysia’s Tears in Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore’s The Sandbox.

Meanwhile, ten films will compete for the festival’s top honours: Ah Girl, Aisha Can’t Fly Away, Becoming Human, Broken Voices, Girl, Lucky Lu, Riverstone, Silent Rebellion, The Red Hangar, and The Waves Will Carry Us.

In total, MIFFest 2026 will showcase 62 films from 35 countries and regions before concluding with the Malaysia Golden Global Awards (MGGA).