KUCHING, March 29 – The inaugural Asean International Film Festival and Awards (AIFFA 2013) has already had an impact on Sarawak when four memorandums of understanding on the shooting of films and location shooting venues in the state were sealed today.
One of the MOUs with the State Tourism Ministry involved a Bollywood company, Jeet Global, which will undertake the task of bringing in six film producers from India to explore potential location shooting venues in the state. One more deal saw Singapore-based production houses, Kelvin Sng Production and Stardust Pictures, combining to produce a film entitled “Dayak Brothers”, while Malaysian film companies, Tarantella Pictures Sdn Bhd and Unique Twins Sdn Bhd, will produce movies named “Bujang Senang” and “Rentap”, respectively.
Sarawak Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg witnessed the signing by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik, and the respective representatives of the film companies. The ceremony was part of the programme for the AIFFA 2013 Film Exhibition and Seminar at a leading hotel here.
Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Abang Johari said Sarawak could ride on the popularity of the films to be produced in the state should the works become world hits. He said the decision by the film producers to choose the state for location shooting would also provide business and employment opportunities for Sarawakians.
In his speech opening the exhibition and seminar, Abang Johari said Sarawak was “a natural studio” for any kind of movies or documentaries that could stir, impact and shape society. The natural environment that Sarawak had successfully preserved was something that the state could offer to the world’s filming industry, he said.
BERNAMA
