Kuala Lumpur – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Malaysia is hosting its second edition of the Global Migration Film Festival (GMFF) on Thursday, 15 December 2022. Organised in conjunction with International Migrants’ Day that falls on 18 December, GMFF serves as a platform to celebrate the diversity of migrants while also raising awareness on the challenges they experience, creating a more empathetic and inclusive society.

The half-day event, which will be held at PJLA Theatre Hall in Jaya One shopping mall from 2.30pm until 5.30pm expects to see over 200 participants, including cinephiles, civil society partners, the UN agencies, Government representatives, and the general public to discuss the key challenges of migration, particularly within the scopes of migrant domestic workers and statelessness.

“This is a great opportunity for the public to learn and have a safe discourse on migration issues happening in Malaysia, specifically on statelessness and challenges faced by migrant domestic workers,” said Kendra Rinas, IOM Malaysia Chief of Mission. “What better way to do this than through film – a powerful tool that can create understanding and bring changes. We hope that, through this event, the public will gain better insights on these issues within the Malaysian context.”

The films to be screened at the event are Rasa Dan Asa (Flavours, Feelings & Hopes) by Okui Lala and Nasrikah; Di Sini Aku (Here I Am) and Rumah Ndak Bertanah (The House Without A Ground) both by Putri Purnama Sugua and Tan Cher Kian. While Rasa Dan Asa tells the stories of migrant women working as domestic workers in Malaysia, Di Sini Aku and Rumah Ndak Bertanah highlight the challenges faced by undocumented children in the east Malaysia state of Sabah, such as the lack of access to education.

The film screenings will be followed by 2 panel discussions centred respectively on migrant domestic workers and issues of statelessness. Panel speakers include Binti Rosidah, founding member and Vice Chairperson of Indonesian Migrant Domestic Workers Association (PERTIMIG); Putri Purnama Sugua, filmmaker; Illy Kamaludin, Head of Statelessness Unit at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); Maalini Ramalo, Director for Social Protection of Development of Human Resources in Rural Area (DHRRA) Malaysia; and Josh Hong, National Project Coordinator for the Advancing Workers' Rights in the Palm Oil Sector in Indonesia and Malaysia project at International Labour Organization (ILO). Audiences interested in learning more will have the opportunity to participate in the Q&A sessions that will ensue after the discussions.

Apart from film screenings and panel discussions, audience will get to check out a mini photo exhibition which illustrates migrants’ journeys as well as handmade crafts by refugees that will be sold at booths set up by Rohingya Women Development Network (RWDN) and Cuci Ceria Project.

The event will be free of charge with refreshments provided. To attend the event, interested attendees can register by clicking HERE.

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For more information, please contact Siti Mustaffa at IOM Malaysia:

Tel.: +603 9235 5475 / Email: smustaffa@iom.int