MIFFest Opens Ninth Edition in Kuala Lumpur, Earns ASEAN Records Recognition
6 reported
The ninth Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) opened on July 18 at MyTown Shopping Centre in Kuala Lumpur, beginning an eight-day showcase of international cinema. The opening ceremony included a red carpet and the presentation of an ASEAN Records title to the festival, recognizing its ASEAN On Screen platform and Malaysia Golden Global Awards program. Festival founder and president Joanne Goh delivered the welcome address alongside ambassadors Bront Palarae, Daiyan Trisha and Jack Tan, introducing the 2026 theme of Resonance. The evening featured the world premiere of the opening film “Baga: Tomorrow Belongs To No One,” directed by Ariff Zulkarnain, which follows a story set in a fishing community on Malaysia’s East Coast. The festival’s program also includes Russian Film Week, ASEAN On Screen, Hong Kong Cinema in Flux, New Rhythms of Indian Cinema, Open Air Cinema, masterclasses and industry forums. MIFFest runs through July 25.
What’s reported
MIFFest opened on July 18 at MyTown Shopping Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
The festival received an ASEAN Records title for its ASEAN On Screen platform and Malaysia Golden Global Awards program.
The 2026 theme is Resonance, as stated by founder Joanne Goh.
The opening film was “Baga: Tomorrow Belongs To No One,” directed by Ariff Zulkarnain.
The festival runs through July 25.
The program includes Russian Film Week, presented with the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, Roskino and Mosfilm.
Key figures
Joanne Goh, founder and president of MIFFest
Bront Palarae, festival ambassador
Daiyan Trisha, festival ambassador
Jack Tan, festival ambassador
Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, chair of Tourism Malaysia
Datuk Bahria Mohd Tamil, deputy secretary general (strategic communications and creative industry) at the Ministry of Communications
Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib, CEO of the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS)
Ariff Zulkarnain, director of opening film “Baga: Tomorrow Belongs To No One”
Shafiq Yusof, executive producer of opening film
Syafiq Kyle, Malaysian actor
Sarita Reth, Cambodian actress
Sources: Variety
