KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — Comedian and actor Mohd Razizan Abdul Razak, or better known as Zizan Razak, has been named as part of the five-member jury for the 6th Malaysian International Film Festival (MIFFest) here next month.
Apart from Zizan, who represents the country, the other four judges appointed are a director from Singapore, Eric Khoo; famous Japanese director Ryuichi Hinoki; well-known Vietnamese actress Truong Ngoc Anh, and director, film producer and screenwriter Johnnie To, who will be the jury president.
MIFFest founder Joanne Goh praised Zizan’s character and experience, saying he is a versatile and world-class Malaysian actor.
“We are proud to name him (Zizan) as a member of the jury for the first time. This distinguished group will evaluate the festival’s best competitors and determine the coveted award winners,” she said in a press conference announcing the official line-up of the 6th MIFFest here today.
Joanne also announced that Taiwanese actress Sylvia Chang will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the 6th MIFFest, which will take place at LaLaport BBCC from July 23 to 29.
Sylvia will receive the award at Zepp Kuala Lumpur on July 29.
“Known for her extraordinary talent and dedication, Sylvia’s contribution to the film industry has left a lasting impact. Her unforgettable performances and critically acclaimed films have resonated with audiences around the world,” said Joanne.
Joanne said 42 films from 15 countries were selected from over 300 entries received for this edition of the festival.
“This year, we had the pleasure of receiving and screening over 300 films. This is an impressive number that showcases the vibrant state of cinema and the passion for filmmaking around the world,” she added.
The opening film Eraser, directed by Mark Lee See Teck, promises to captivate audiences with its compelling narrative and emotional depth. It was also the last film of the late singer-actress Adibah Noor.
The award categories (five nominees each) of the 6th MIFFest are Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.
The 6th MIFFest also collaborates with Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) for the BIFAN At MIFFest programme which showcases critically acclaimed South Korean films and also presents the annual BMW Shorties Awards with 10 categories and 133 entries. — Bernama
