The 8th Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) will take place from 19 to 27 July 2025, bringing together 62 films from 48 countries in over 43 languages. Staying true to its mission of connecting Malaysian and international cinema, this year’s festival highlights bold and diverse storytelling. The festival will open with Ninavau, a Malaysian feature exploring cultural identity, and close with Transamazonia, an international production focused on resilience and environmental issues. MIFFest will also honour Hong Kong film legend Ti Lung with a Lifetime Achievement Award under its “Master At Work” series, featuring a special screening of A Better Tomorrow. Indonesian actor Reza Rahadian will receive the Award for Excellent Achievement in Film, celebrating his major contribution to Southeast Asian cinema.
Other highlights include the return of Malaysian Dispatch, showcasing local films, and the Manifesto segment, featuring socially conscious cinema. The Neon programme supports new filmmakers, while Harbour of Stories: Hong Kong On Screen explores modern Hong Kong life. Indian cinema will be in focus through a tribute to Raj Kapoor and a spotlight on women filmmakers, including Village Rockstars 2 by Rima Das, who also serves on the MIFFest 2025 jury. In collaboration with the 25th European Union Film Festival (EUFF), MIFFest x EUFF presents a special lineup of European films, led by Year of the Widow.
As Malaysia chairs ASEAN in 2025, the ASEAN On Screen programme returns with 6 regional films and the ASEAN On Screen Summit featuring figures like Lee Dong Ha, Saville Chan, and Lee Sang-Hoon. The Malaysia Golden Global Awards (MGGA) will be held on 26 July 2025 at ZEPP Kuala Lumpur, with All That’s Left of You, My Friend An Delie, and To A Land Unknown leading the nominations. The awards ceremony will be streamed live on Facebook and TikTok.
The international jury will be led by British director Asif Kapadia, joined by Malaysia’s Diana Danielle, Hong Kong’s Jennifer Yu, Indonesia’s Reza Rahadian, and India’s Rima Das. New strategic partners for MIFFest 2025 include Oceanus Media Global, True Colour Media, and Iskandar Malaysia Studios, which are launching a RM1 million Film Equipment & Virtual Production Grant to support filmmakers across ASEAN. AirAsia has also joined as the official airline partner, with AirAsia Entertainment onboard as media partner.
Festival passes are now on sale at RM49.99, with a special RM39.99 rate for Hong Leong Bank cardholders. Students and press are eligible for free passes. For full details, tickets, and updates, visit www.miffest.com.my and follow MIFFest on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. – Tehtariktimes
