The National Art and Cultural Centre of the Georges Pompidou in Paris is currently showcasing the largest ever film screening entitled “Malaysia and Singapore: The Cinema” from Malaysia and Singapore in its 2010 programme. The screening which started from 18 December 2009 to 1 March 2010, aims at showcasing about 50 Malaysian and Singaporean films to the French public. The films were produced over a period of 50 years from the golden age of the Malay film industry in the 1950s and 1960s to the latest “indie” films.
The screening is a collaboration between the Georges Pompidou Centre with the National Film Development Corporation of Malaysia (FINAS). Malaysia Airlines had also sponsored the event.
The screening explores Malay films notably from the Shaw Brothers Malay Film Productions and Cathay-Keris studio produced in the 50s and 60s such as Penarek Becha directed by P.Ramlee (1955), Sumpah Pontianak by B.N. Rao (1958), Sumpah Orang Minyak by P.Ramlee (1958), Hang Jebat by Hussain Haniff (1961) and many more.
Apart from the oldies, Georges Pompidou Centre will also highlight contemporary producers such as the late Yasmin Ahmad, Amir Muhammad, Ho Yuhang and others. Among the contemporary Malaysian films that would be screened are Seman by Mansor Puteh (1988), Perempuan, Isteri dan..... by U-Wei Haji Saari (1993), Rain Dogs by Ho Yuhang (2006), The Big Durian by Amir Muhammad (2003), Sepet by Yasmin Ahmad (2004), Gubra by Yasmin Ahmad (2005), Before We fall in Love Again by James Lee (2006) and Karaoke by Chris Chong Chan Fui (2009).
In conjunction with the screening, H.E. Dato’ S. Thanarajasingam, the Ambassador of Malaysia to France, hosted a high-tea reception at the Georges Restaurant, located on the top floor of the Pompidou Centre on 21 January 2010. The reception was attended by key personalities, including Ms. Sylvie Pras, Cinema Director of the Georges Pompidou Centre; Mr. Jeremy Segay, event organiser; Mr. Sarjanisham Darus, Manager of Malaysia Airlines Paris; Mr. Jeffri Munir, Director of Tourism Malaysia, Paris; officials from Centre Pompidou involved in the cinema project as well as officials from the Embassy of Malaysia.
Two Malaysian film directors, Mr. Amir Muhammad and Mr. Chris Chong Chan Fui also attended the reception. During the reception, Malaysia Airlines presented five (5) airline tickets to Georges Pompidou Centre. The reception was sponsored by FINAS.
The National Art and Cultural Centre of the Georges Pompidou located in the heart of Paris first opened its door to the public in 1977. In a unique location under one roof, the Georges Pompidou Centre houses one of the most important museums in the world, featuring a collection of modern and contemporary art, a public library, cinema and performance halls, a music research institute, educational activity areas, bookshops, a restaurant and a café.
The Centre boasts as being one of the most visited attractions in France. Some six million people pass through the Centre Pompidou’s doors each year, a total of over 190 million visitors in its 30 years existence. Cinema has been a main activity of the Centre Pompidou, since its creation in 1977 of which over 80 film programmes were presented.
The programme and list of films shown at Centre Pompidou for the event “Malaysia and Singapore: The Cinema” can also be viewed at www.centrepompidou.fr.
Embassy of Malaysia
Paris
19 January 2010
