Thank you to everyone! Submissions have now closed.
Docs+ Screenings
Venue: JKKN
Time: 5.00pm – 7.00pm (approx)
Free entry – everyone is welcome
All non-English movies have English sub-titles
| Dates | Time | Language | Movie Name |
| 6 June Fri |
5.00pm – 7.00pm | Indonesia | Romeo Juliet – Andibachtiar Yusuf |
| 9 June Mon |
5.00pm – 7.00pm | Vietnam | Talking to my best friend – Le Ha Nguyen |
| Malaysia | Jungle Beat – Dr Megat al-Imran | ||
| Philippines | Dire Husi (Here, my friend) – Nef Luczon | ||
| Malaysia | Tap That! Of Land, Water & Us – Beatrice Leong / Carolyn Chon | ||
| 10 June Tues |
5.00pm – 7.00pm | Malaysia | Cuak (Second Thoughts) – Khairil M Bahar |
| 11 June Wed |
5.00pm – 7.00pm | Vietnam | Wheel of Life – Phuong Minh Truong |
| Philippines | A Shadow Boxer’s Dream – Joseph Israel Laban | ||
| Malaysia | M-C-M’ – Boon Kia Meng | ||
| Myanmar | An untitled life – Shin Daewe | ||
| Malaysia |
Open Verdict – Ho Yuhang |
||
| 12 June Thurs |
5.00pm – 7.00pm | Malaysia | A Step in the Right Direction – Jared Abdul-Rahman |
DOCS+ – Film titles, synopsis, director’s bio and pic
ROMEO & JULIET
Synopsis : Set in Jakarta, Indonesia, football fans fight it out – the orange supporters vs the blues. But in the midst of this heated up rivalry, Rangga’s feelings towards Desi grow – but she belongs to the enemy group.
Rangga is torn between his love for Desi and the demands of Jakmania. He’s labeled as a traitor and his supporter clothing business is on the brink of bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Desi faces bitter resentment from her brother, leader of the Vikings.
Will their love survive this test? Will fanatism between football teams crush this pure love between two human beings?
Writer/Director : Andibachtiar Yusuf
Yusuf is one of the emerging movie directors in Indonesia known for his dedication to portraying Indonesia football and football supporters on cinema. Romeo Juliet is his first feature film that was selected for the Hong Kong International Film Festival. Yusuf has also directed documentaries which made their way on Indonesian cinema. His work has won several prestigious awards such as: Festival Film Indonesia (FFI – Piala Citra), Jakarta International Film Festival (Jiffest), Berlinale Talent Campus program and so on.
TALKING TO MY BEST FRIEND
Synopsis : The goal of their lives: To become women. They dare to do everything to achieve this. Talks between two close friends – two transgender people who were born in the same year, grew up together in the same city, had the same sexual orientation, and chose the same way of their own to live their lives… However, their destinies are so different to each other.
Director : Le Ha Nguyen
Le Nguyen, an indie filmmaker with 6 years of media experience, has been working in Vietnam since the end of 2008, and used to be a member/producer of DCTV in Washington DC, USA. Currently he works as Director/Producer at Focus300 Media JSC, Hanoi, Vietnam, Administrator and Director of Events at Ha Noi Pho Club.
JUNGLE BEAT
Synopsis : This documentary tells about the unique abilities possessed by the people of Pahang and Kelantan which leads to a mysterious phenomenon of the jungle…the calling of the wild through the rhythmic beating of leaves and twigs. Small animals such as mouse deer will come out of the forest dancing to the jungle beat. This phenomenon shows the close bonds between human beings, animals and nature. A dying art that should be handed down to the next generation.
Director : Dr Megat al-Imran Yasin
Dr. Megat Al-Imran Yasin is currently Deputy Director General of National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) under the Ministry of Communications & Multimedia. FINAS focus has primarily been on feature films, documentaries and animation.
Dr. Megat Al-Imran was previously a senior lecturer in the Communication Department, Faculty of Modern Languages& Communication University Putra Malaysia and has worked in the Magazine Department TV3 producing Majalah 3 programmes and other documentary programmes.
DIRE HUSI (HERE, MY FRIEND)
Synopsis : Rhyan Casiño was adopted by an indigenous community and the journey to bring back their identity through the arts was quite tumultuous until Rhyan formed “Dire Husi,” and passed what he learned from the tribe to the youths that were mostly forsaken by time and society.
Director : Nef Luczon
Nef Luczon started his career as a journalist, experiencing the fields of print, radio and television. He further enhanced his filmmaking skills by producing and directing experimental-narrative short films. Nef teaches part-time communication and mass media arts in the Department of Technology Communication Management in Mindanao University of Science and Technology. In addition, he is the moderator of the newly found “Aesthetikos: The Film and Literature Society of Mindanao University of Science and Technology”.
TAP THAT! OF LAND, WATER & US
Synopsis : Indigenous communities in Borneo are rapidly losing their natural water catchment areas – a fine indicator of economic growth. Rampant agriculture and logging activity, at an electrifying rate, means the rain is the only natural source of water. And there is nowhere to store it.
This film examines the relationship between people, water and the very land beneath their feet – based on the experiences of the people of Kg Komburongo in rural Sabah. This is a crowd-funded film.
Co-Director & DOP : Carolyn Chon
Carol Chon worked several years in the advertising industry before having the courage to leave, in pursuit of a more fulfilling profession. She found herself basking in the wonderful world of photography. Carol finds inspiration from nature, music and people she meets and has a dream to tell beautiful stories through imagery, moving or still. Carol’s first foray into documentary filmmaking has pushed the limits of the visual we envisioned for this film, due to her experience as a photographer, attention to detail and intimate visual style.
CUAK (SECOND THOUGHTS)
Synopsis : Cuak roughly translates as ‘cold feet’ and is about Adam who is having second thoughts as he goes through the events that lead up to his marriage – how they first met, the in-laws and best friends and making tough decisions such as converting one’s religion to get married. The film is uniquely told by 5 directors who each direct one of these events in a different style – from drama and comedy to noir and mockumentary. These are then combined together to make one full story. Cuak is a truly Malaysian movie with themes that resonate with a universal audience.
DIRECTORS
CUAK is directed by 5 different directors from varying backgrounds:
KHAIRIL M BAHAR is mostly known for his no-budget features such as ‘Ciplak’ & ‘Relationship Status’ as well as a number of TV shows and short films.
LIM BENJI started off collaborating on films such as ‘S’Kali’ & ‘The Joshua Tapes’ before directing the 15Malaysia short ‘Meter’ featuring Umno Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin.
MANESH NESARATNAM has worked on a bevy of TV work such ‘Ghost’ & ‘Sepuluh’ and was awarded an Anugerah Skrin for Best Comedy series in 2012.
TONY PIETRA ARJUNA began as an offline editor before directing TV shows ‘Dark City’ & ‘Ghost’, documentaries for the Crime & Investigation Network and 3D animated series Ibn Battuta.
SHAMAINE OTHMAN has written and performed on stage in a number of productions, most notably the comedy ensemble Projek Disko Baldi and her own stand up comedy performances.
WHEEL OF LIFE
Synopsis: Behind the statues of Buddha, the daily lives of those living there are not as peaceful as the pagoda looks. Separated or connected, the Wheel of Life decides fates. It seems to be predestination that brings an inexperienced monk and five abandoned children to one another at a pagoda. She keeps refusing all suggestions from others to adopt them. However, the risk of more abandoned children being left there is very real.
Director: Phuong Minh Truong
Phuong Truong is currently a student at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam. She graduated from a class in documentary filmmaking at the The Centre for Assistant and Development of Movie Talents (TPD), Vietnam Cinema Association. “Duyen” (Wheel of Life) is her first film and also the graduation project for her filmmaking class.
SUNTOK SA BUWAN (A SHADOW BOXER’S DREAM)
Synopsis: John is 13 years old and the lone boxer from the tiny island province of Marinduque in the Philippines competing at the regional athletic meet. The meet intends to discover the next generation of Filipino athletes to represent the country internationally. Winning at the regional level could mean a lucrative future and a scholarship. Losing means he will never be able to attain his dream of becoming the next Manny Pacquiao.
Director: Joseph Israel Laban
Joseph Israel Laban is an award-winning Tagalog journalist and independent filmmaker.
In 2013, he wrote, directed, and produced the film Nuwebe, finalist at the 2013 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. Since its release in August 2013, it has been screened at more than twenty international film festivals. It has won several international awards.
Joseph is also a Palanca-winning playwright and a Fulbright Scholar. He holds a Master’s degree in documentary filmmaking from New York University where he was a recipient of the prestigious NYU Graduate School for the Arts and Sciences Scholarship.
M-C-M’
Synopsis: The filmmaker takes us on a journey to discover how the present situation of escalating house prices came about, what kind of forces are at work, interviewing the key players in the system, such as developers, the banks, the state and young house buyers, which some concerned parties have called the Malaysian Homeless Generation.
An award-winning film on affordable housing, rising debt, and why democracy matters to the economic well-being of all Malaysians.
Director: Boon Kia Meng
Educator, activist. keen interest in political, economic and social change.
AN UNTITLED LIFE
Synopsis: A painter, Rahula lives a modest but contented existence with his family in Mingun, a village on the banks of the Ayeyarwaddy River. As a new work takes shape on a canvas in his studio, we learn how this easy-going artist has managed to survive a sizable chunk of Myanmar’s
chequered history. Sawing the air with his cheroot, the jovial Rahula also reveals how he acquired his unusual name, his successful abstract style and his supportive wife, of whom he admits: “if it weren’t for her I’d still be painting picture of monks and pagodas for the tourists.”
Director: Shin Daewe
Born in Myanmar. She used to be a political prisoner under the military government and got inspired to become a documentary filmmaker with the focus of social issues. She began studying filmmaking at Yangon Film School and has made several short documentaries. In 2013 she received the best documentary award from The Art of Freedom of Film Festival and Wathann Film Festival.
OPEN VERDICT
Synopsis: In Open Verdict, Ho Yuhang reveals his quirky sense of humour. The Hong Kong narcotics police department is working with their counterparts from Malaysia, staking out and following multiple leads. Meanwhile, a mysterious tourist with a really, really heavy suitcase checks into a seedy hotel. This short film was one of four commissioned by the Hong Kong International Film Festival (2011) to be made by renowned filmmakers — Brillante Mendoza, Yuhang Ho, Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Stanley Kwan. It stars Kara Hui.
Director: Ho Yuhang
Ho Yuhang was born and raised in Petaling Jaya. After taking a degree in engineering in the US, he opted for a career in TV production when he returned to Malaysia. In 1999, he made the six-part documentary series Semangat Insan: Masters of Tradition. His debut feature Min (2003) won the Special Jury Prize at the Festival des 3 Continents in France. His third and most renowned feature film so far, Rain Dogs, became the first Malaysian film to enter the Venice Film Festival in 2006. In 2008, he was one of three finalists for Martin Scorsese’s mentorship in an arts initiative sponsored by Rolex. His widely anticipated fourth feature At The End of Daybreak received the NETPAC Award at the Locarno Film Festival and garnered seven Best Actress Awards for lead actress Kara Hui.
A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
Synopsis: It’s been three years since Aaron Matthews killed two people and injured another outside a busy night club in Hobart, Australia. Unable to answer for his actions, Aaron was shot dead by police at the scene. By combining interviews with those affected by his actions, and footage from his now notorious video blog, the film explores the character of Aaron and the aftermath of that night. In doing so, it finds itself tasked with making sense from contradiction, while mediating public discourse on identity, causation and resolution.
Directors: Jared Abdul-Rahman and Alessandro Frosali
Producing films under his independent production company The Amadis Project, Jared Abdul-Rahman is an aspiring, young filmmaker whose films have received international attention at various film festivals.
Despite focusing his filmmaking talent for writing, directing, producing, cinematography and editing on short films and music videos, his latest production is his feature film directorial debut: A Step in the Right Direction. A guerrilla filmmaker at heart, Jared’s story-telling style tends to favour a gritty, unconventional approach, often experimenting with different techniques to deliver a raw, but realised vision.
