International Movies

Thanks to a friend, we got to know about KakiKino, a company that’s screening international movies at the FINAS complex along Jalan Hulu Klang near the National Zoo. Film screenings are on Wednesdays while the last Saturday of every month features Directors in Conversation following a screening of their films (Past Directors include Yasmin Ahmad, Deepak Menon, and U-Wei). What’s great is, admission is FREE – with refreshments thrown in at the end of the movies.

Previous screenings in February include The Sea Inside, Ray, The Pianist, Downfall, and Angel By My Window/Bukak Api.

In March: Maria Full of Grace (8 Mar), Le Fils (The Son) (15 Mar), Schizo (22 Mar), Monday Morning Glory (25 Mar), La Nina Santa (29 Mar).

We caught the thoughtful Belgian award-winner Le Fils which was screened to a crowd of no more than 50 that evening. But more about it later. Here’s an excerpt from an email sent to all on the KakiKino mailing list:

It is with great pleasure that we wish to announce the return of the international film screenings that we used to organise at the Asia-Europe Institute, UM.

There have been many changes over the last few months, especially since Gareth left AEI. First of all, four of us (Gareth, Wan, Khadijah and Noorshah) have established KAKI KINO as a film consultancy through which we hope to encourage progressive film culture in Malaysia.

More importantly, starting in February the new home for the film screenings will be the National Film Development Corporation (FINAS) which is located next to Zoo Negara in Ampang. We are very happy with this new arrangement. The FINAS Director General, Fauzi Ayob, is keen to encourage a more vigorous engagement with world cinema and the screenings are part of this new direction.

The film screenings will take the same format as before. International films will be shown every Wednesday evening at 8.30 pm, while the last Saturday of each month will be used to showcase the best of Malaysian filmmakers. As usual, we will be providing a short introductory talk, programme notes and refreshments (hurray!). Admission to all films is free.

I'm afraid you'll have to write to KakiKino at kaki.kino@yahoo.com if you want more information (they don't have a website). The full address for the film screenings is:

Auditorium P. Ramlee
National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS)
Studio Merdeka Complex
Lot 1662, Jalan Hulu Kelang
68000 Ampang
Tel: 4108 5722 (FINAS)