The ninth Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) opened on July 18 at MyTown Shopping Centre, kicking off an eight-day showcase of international cinema and marking the festival’s official recognition from ASEAN Records.
The opening ceremony drew filmmakers, industry leaders and stars to a red carpet ahead of the evening’s program.
Joanne Goh, founder and president of MIFFest, delivered the welcome address alongside this year’s festival ambassadors, Bront Palarae, Daiyan Trisha and Jack Tan. Goh outlined the inspiration behind the festival’s 2026 theme.
“This year, our theme is Resonance. Resonance is the lasting echo of a story. It is the emotion that remains long after the credits roll, the conversations that continue beyond the cinema, and the connections that film creates across cultures, generations, and borders,” Goh said.
Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, chair of Tourism Malaysia, addressed the audience, reaffirming support for MIFFest’s role in strengthening the country’s creative industry and cultural diplomacy. Datuk Bahria Mohd Tamil, deputy secretary general (strategic communications and creative industry) at the Ministry of Communications, and Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib, CEO of the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS), also attended. Goh presented tokens of appreciation to the festival ambassadors during the ceremony.
The evening’s centerpiece was the presentation of the ASEAN Records title to MIFFest, recognizing the festival’s ASEAN On Screen platform and its Malaysia Golden Global Awards (MGGA) program as a lasting hub for Southeast Asian cinema. Goh accepted the recognition on behalf of the festival.
“When we introduced ASEAN On Screen, our vision was to create a lasting platform where the stories of Southeast Asia could be celebrated, discovered, and shared with the world. Through cinema, we hope to continue connecting our diverse voices with international audiences and inspiring future generations of storytellers,” Goh said.
ASEAN On Screen launched in 2025 during Malaysia’s ASEAN chairship and has since become a permanent annual program at MIFFest. The ceremony also recognized the festival’s preliminary selection committee and the jury panels for the semi-final and final stages.
Following the ceremony, guests moved to GSC MyTown for the world premiere of the festival’s opening film, “Baga: Tomorrow Belongs To No One,” directed by Ariff Zulkarnain. The film unfolds in a devout fishing community on Malaysia’s East Coast, following two young lovers, Jani and Melur, whose plans for the future are upended by an unplanned pregnancy, poverty and addiction, pushing Jani toward the drug trade. Zulkarnain drew on his own upbringing for the story.
Leading the delegation for this year’s opening film were executive producer Shafiq Yusof, director Zulkarnain and Malaysian actor Syafiq Kyle, alongside Cambodian actress Sarita Reth. Also in attendance were Jojo Goh, actor-director Nam Ron and actress June Lojong, among other guests from Malaysia and abroad.
This year’s program also includes Russian Film Week, presented with the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, Roskino and Mosfilm, offering free screenings of four Russian films. Additional strands include ASEAN On Screen, Hong Kong Cinema in Flux, New Rhythms of Indian Cinema, Open Air Cinema, masterclasses and industry forums.
The festival runs through July 25.
