Kuala Lumpur: Acclaimed South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 9th Malaysia International Film Festival (Miffest), which takes place from July 18 to 25.
The festival will screen 65 films from 35 countries and regions in 27 languages, including two world premieres, one international premiere, three Asian premieres, 12 Southeast Asian premieres and 28 Malaysian premieres.
Miffest president Joanne Goh described Lee as “a filmmaker whose work continues to resonate across cultures and generations through its honesty, compassion, and profound understanding of humanity”, with the tribute programme featuring screenings of “Peppermint Candy” and “Oasis”.
Chinese actor-director Wu Jing will receive the Excellent Achievement in Film Award, while “Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert”, directed by Yuen Woo-Ping, will be screened in conjunction with the honour.
The festival will open with the world premiere of Malaysian feature “BAGA: Tomorrow Belongs To No One” by Ariff Zulkarnain and close with “Yellow Letters” by İlker Çatak, winner of the Golden Bear at the 76th Berlin Film Festival.
The International Competition section will feature 10 films by directors with three or fewer narrative features, including Malaysian entry “The Waves Will Carry Us” by Lau Kek-Huat alongside submissions from Singapore, Egypt, France, Germany, Cambodia, the Czech Republic, Taiwan, the United States, Canada, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Belgium, Chile, Argentina and Italy.
The jury will be chaired by Indian filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and comprise Taiwanese director Midi Z, Thai actor-producer Ananda Everingham, Hong Kong production designer Man Lim-chung and Malaysian actress Sharifah Amani.
