KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 ― The 28th Malaysia Film Festival's (FFM) main national award will be for movies in Bahasa Malaysia, followed by a “Best Malaysian Film” category for all languages, the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) said today.
Finas chairman Datuk Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib announced the new award categories today, and appeared to effectively elevate the award for BM-only films above the other category.
“The FFM28 Best National Film Award category is the main national award for the best film produced by Malaysians using Bahasa Malaysia as the language of the film's dialogue, in line with its position as the national language in Malaysia's Constitution,” he said in a statement today.
“The FFM28 Best Malaysian Film Award category is the festival's best award for films produced by Malaysians using any languages spoken by Malaysians as the language of the film's dialogue,” he added.
The announcement appears to reverse the effect of the previous decision made by the Communications and Multimedia Ministry last Wednesday, in which it opened up the FFM's main award of Best Picture to all films regardless of language. Previously, it was restricted to films with 70 per cent Bahasa Malaysia content.
At the same time, the ministry created a new category for Best Film in National Language.
Following today's announcement, it appears that the Best Film in National Language is superseded by the Best National Film award, while the all-language Best Picture is now the Best Malaysian Film award.
In the same announcement today, Mohd Khusairi also said Finas will adhere to its earlier decision to abolish the non-Bahasa Malaysia category for Best Screenplay and Best Director and have all films compete for these awards regardless of medium. He also said all other categories will still be contested without regards to language.
“Finas hopes that all quarters will accept this decision without prejudice and polemics in line with the Malaysia Film Festival's main objective as the government's recognition of the achievements and excellence by those in the national film industry,” he said of the new mechanism for FFM awards.
When contacted for clarification, including whether the prizes were being renamed and whether the BM-only award is senior to the all-language film group, an officer from the Finas corporate communication department said the message of the statement was “very clear”.
“Finas decided on the new mechanism based on the decision of YBM to abolish the non-Bahasa category and introduce Best Film in National Language. No issue of hierarchy or status as FFM celebrates all Malaysian films,” the officer told Malay Mail Online.
Last Thursday, Finas as the festival organiser said 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.
This was in response to the controversy created when critically acclaimed films Ola Bola and Jagat were initially disqualified from contesting the main Best Picture award.
Last week, the Film Directors' Association of Malaysia (FDAM) had objected to the recognition of works not in Bahasa Malaysia for national-level awards, with its vice president Syed Zulkifli Syed Masir previously telling Malay Mail Online that the association wanted the newly-created Best Film in National Language to be elevated to be the most prestigious award of FFM.
Although initially disassociating itself from FFM over the perceived recognition of non-BM works for national level awards, Syed Zulkifli this Tuesday told Malay Mail Online that FDAM has reinstated its official support for FFM after hearing the communications and multimedia minister's explanation that the festival still upholds Bahasa Malaysia's constitutional position as the national language.
The Tuesday meeting was between the minister, FDAM, Malaysian Film Producers Association (PFM), Professional Film Workers Association of Malaysia (Profima), Artiste Association of Malaysia (Seniman) and TV Producers Association of Malaysia (PTVM).
The 28th FFM awards will run from September 1 to 3.
