Now in its fifth year, the annual KOMAS FreedomFilmFest (FFF2008) is screening 30 films from all over the world including four LGBT-themed ones, and others related to its theme: "Democratic Space - Making Room for Human Rights."

The Queer Cinema session has been scheduled for Sunday, Sept 14 in Johor Bahru (Sept 21 in Kuching and Sept 28 in Penang) where three films Sambal Belacan in San Francisco by Singapore-born filmmaker Madeleine Lim, Pang Yau(Friend in Cantonese) by Malaysian Amir Muhammad and It's Over by Korean Lee Jung-a will be screened.

The award winning Pecah Lobang which explores the life of a Muslim transsexual sex worker in Malaysia and cross-dressing which is considered a crime under the Syariah court system for Muslims will be screened on Sat, Sept 13 in JB (Sept 20 in Kuching and Sept 27 in Penang). Penang-born Poh Si Teng's film which means "busted" in Malay was one of two films that won the Most Outstanding Human Rights Film award at this year's festival.

Freedom Film Festival winners
Saturday, 8pm
Pecah Lobang (Poh Si Teng / 2008 / 30mins)
Pecah Lobang explores what it's like to be a Muslim transsexual sex worker in Malaysia. Shot in the Chow Kit red light district, the documentary revolves around Natasha, a Muslim Mak Nyah, who refuses to live life as a man. Unable to secure employment because of discrimination, Natasha turns to sex work and lives in constant fear of the police and religious authorities. Crossdressing is a crime under the Syariah court system for Muslims and the penalties are severe. But it wasn't always so. How did Malaysia become so heavy-handed on the transsexual community?

Queer Cinema
Sunday, 11am-1pm

Sambal Belachan in San Francisco (Madeleine Lim / 1997 / 25mins)
Sambal Belachan in San Francisco contains intimate interviews with three Singaporean women who emigrated to live openly as lesbians share their feelings of exclusion both from their families and culture of origin and the United States. This rich film raises provocative questions about the nature of home and belonging, and speaks compellingly for a community whose voices are seldom heard.

Pang Yau (Amir Muhammad / 2003 / 13mins)
Against the bustling backdrop of Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown, a Malay-Muslim narrator reminisces about a teenage relationship between himself and an ethnic Chinese classmate. Pangyau, the Cantonese word for friend, is not just the story of a close friendship, but a prism through which the writer gets to examine his feelings about the the ways in which race and religion have been used in the national socio-political discourse.

It's Over (Lee Jung-a / 2006 / 13mins)
A love triangle between three Korean high school students leads to a surprise ending, at least for one of them.

FreedomFilmFest dates
Sept 5 - 7, Kuala Lumpur: The Annexe Gallery Studio Theatre, 1st & 2nd Floor, Central Market Annexe, Jalan Hang Kasturi
Sept 12 - 14, Johor Bahru: Tropical Inn: 15 Jalan Gereja. Nyam +6016 778 2707
Sept 19 - 21, Kuching: Old Court House: Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg. Ahmad +6019 438 3706
Sept 26 - 28, Penang: Wawasan Open University (WOU) 54 Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah. Josh +6016 462 2650

Screenings are open to the public and entrance is free. To see screening schedule and venue details, visit freedomfilmfest.komas.org.


Pecah Lobang trailer