A sharing session was held on 11 January 2024 by the Faculty of Cinematic Arts (FCA). This event was attended by Mr. Tsukamoto Norihisa, the Director of Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur (JFKL), faculty members and students. Two lucky FCA students found themselves amongst counterparts from Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines and Thailand at the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) courtesy of the Japan Foundation under a programme called “Japan Foundation & TIFF Lounge: TIFF Asian Film Students Exchange Program” in October 2023.
The students, Ms. Anabell Lynn J. Saimon, and Mr. Wong Tuck Hon (Class of 2023 Permata Award recipient) were selected by FCA out of many impressive applications via an open call that ended in September 2024. The “TIFF Asian Film Students Exchange Program” provided participants with a round-trip economy air ticket to and from Japan, accommodation, meals, traveler’s insurance, and other expenses related to the programme in Japan.
The objective of the programme is to foster a new generation of filmmakers in the Asian countries and to encourage them to network with foreign counterparts in the regions. In addition to the students from the Southeast Asian countries, the participants had an opportunity to meet and have discussions with other counterparts from Beijing, Hong Kong, and Japan. The program welcomed students interested in expanding their networks in the region and in using the experience for their studies and future careers.
The participants of the programme attended masterclasses by Mr. Zhang Yimou, a prominent Chinese film director, producer, writer, actor, professor and former cinematographer and Mr. Hirokazu Kore-eda, a prominent Japanese film director, producer, screenwriter, and editor, toured the Toho Studios (the creator of Godzilla), participated in the 120th Anniversary Ozu Yasujiro Commemorative Conversation with Mr. Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Kelly Reichardt and Jia Zhangke, as well as the TIFFCOM, a marketplace for networking with the players of the Japanese film industry and its filmmakers.
Ms. Anabell and Mr. Wong shared that the highlight of their four-day experience was meeting and befriending other young filmmakers from Asia. They were able to exchange ideas and views, learn about different countries and their cultures, and most importantly, celebrate their common passion for films and filmmaking. They were also thankful for the chance to have a face-to-face session with Mr. Kore-eda, as well as the TIFFCOM exposure on the realities of the film industry in Japan. Having made these valuable networks, they are hopeful that these connections will bear fruition in potential collaborations that will enhance their growth as filmmakers in Malaysia and the region.
During the sharing session, Mr. Tsukamoto Norihisa, the Director of Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur (JFKL), commended Mr. Wong and Ms. Anabell for their exemplary behavior and leadership qualities during a sharing session held at the MMU Cinema. He mentioned that his colleagues in Tokyo were very impressed by how they took charge of the exchange group and assisted them throughout the programme. He is happy that the programme was beneficial to the participants and hopes that there will be similar programmes in future for the young filmmakers in FCA.
