Now, FDAM wants special Malay film category as pinnacle FFM award

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 — The Best Picture in National Language award should be elevated above the Best Picture award that is open to films of all languages in the Malaysia Film Festival (FFM), the Film Directors’ Association of Malaysia (FDAM) has said.

FDAM vice-president Syed Zulkifli Syed Masir said the association was not objecting to these two categories, but merely wanted the award for films in Bahasa Malaysia to be considered the sole “main award” of FFM.

“In line with the Constitution of Malaysia, where Bahasa Melayu is the national and official language, so Festival Filem Malaysia should have the Bahasa Melayu category to be the main award,” he told Malay Mail Online when contacted yesterday over FDAM’s previous statement.

“We are saying put Bahasa Melayu as the most prestigious award in FFM.”

When further explaining the Thursday statement by FDAM on FFM’s awards, he said the industry association does not want to be part of activities that are not in line with the Federal Constitution, for example, when the Malay language is purportedly not placed at the highest level.

“We are saying we are not together with them when they put Bahasa Melayu as second rank, but if they put Bahasa Melayu category at highest level for Best Picture, then we are together (with them) again,” he explained.

He said FDAM will once again give its backing to the 28th FFM this year if BM’s position is upheld in line with the Federal Constitution by having the Best Picture in National Language award as the main award.

On Wednesday, the Communications and Multimedia Ministry decided to open up the FFM’s Best Picture category — previously restricted to films with 70 per cent Bahasa Malaysia content — to all films. It also created the Best Film in National Language category.

The National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) as the festival organiser said on Thursday that it was abolishing all three non-Bahasa Malaysia categories at the 28th FFM, with films previously in these categories automatically placed in the main award categories of Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Director.

The non-Bahasa Malaysia category for Best Picture was introduced in 2011, while the non-Bahasa Malaysia categories for Best Screenplay and Best Director were introduced this year.

As for the Best Screenplay and Best Director awards, Syed Zulkifli said those two categories is “not an issue” for FDAM, with the association’s focus being on having the Best Picture in National Language award becoming the “most prestigious” award out of all the other FFM awards.

He also said the Best Picture in National Language award should continue to have the requirement for 70 per cent of the film dialogue to be in Bahasa Malaysia -- the same condition previously in place for the main Best Picture award.

“We agree to that, we are not saying 100 per cent (in BM), we are saying 70 per cent,” he said.

Syed Zulkifli declined to comment for now on the resignation of two FDAM officials over the association’s stand on the matter.

FDAM assistant general secretary Hafiz Ibrahim and its executive committee member Jeffrey Chiang resigned this Monday evening and on Friday afternoon respectively.

It is understood that FDAM will be meeting with the relevant parties on FFM.

The 28th FFM will run from September 1 to September 3.