<AQERAT> IS COMING HOME MALAYSIA PREMIERE IN MIFFEST

(KUALA LUMPUR – 26^th February 2018) – One of the 2^nd Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) screening film – <AQERAT> is having its press conference on 26^th February (Monday), 12 pm at Sungei Wang. The director, Edmund Yeo will attend the press conference to share his movie with the media. <AQERAT> has been confirmed will be releasing on 26^th February in TGV cinemas, Suria KLCC and having a Q&A session after the screening on 2^nd March 2018.

The 34 years old director, Edmund Yeo’s second feature film titled <AQERAT> starring Daphne Low and Howard Hon Kahoe, which was filmed in Kelantan. The story paints a blood-curdling picture of the human traffickers infesting the border between Thailand and Malaysia. Into their clutches fall boatload after boatload of hapless Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution in their native Myanmar. A local girl saving up to make a new life for herself in Taiwan also falls into their hands, becoming one of them, the photographer of their atrocities. <AQERAT> is a sweeping tale of displacement and morality in contemporary Malaysia. It also speaks as clearly about the Rohingya’s plight as any film to date in heart-wrenching scenes of torture, murder and families mutely running for their lives.

Yeo is the first Malaysian to win in the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) and took home the best director award. He wanted to provoke thought about the dilemma of the Rohingya with his movie <AQERAT>. His feature debut <River of Exploding Durians> also made its world premiere at TIFF three years ago. He also has a documentary about Malaysian film director Yasmin Ahmad, called “Yasmin-san” premiering at TIFF. While the film’s leading actress in <AQERAT>, Daphne Low who starring as main protagonist Hui Ling carries the film well despite its heavy subject matter. She received the new Tokyo Gemstone Award, which honours up-and-coming actors and actresses.
Yeo came up with the story after reading news about mass graves of people, thought to be mainly Rohingya human trafficking victims, which were discovered near Malaysia’s border with Thailand in 2015. <AQERAT> also interestingly uses both Malay and Mandarin, which adds a different dimension to the film.
Following Tokyo, Singapore International Film Festival and Kerala International Film Festival, <AQERAT> will finally come home and screened at the 2^nd Malaysia International Film Festival. It will be the premiere screening in its own country after done screening on the festival circuit. Yeo will bring along Low to attend the Q&A session as well on 2^nd March 2018 after the screening.

Malaysia International Film Festival is to build a unique experience of Malaysian arts and culture to a world-wide audience. The film festival will be held from 25^th February to 2^nd March 2018 at Sungei Wang. Online ticket sale for the section films will be available via Ticket Charge website www.ticketcharge.com.my or contact ticketing hotline 03 – 9222 8811. For more information, please visit the official MIFFest social media page, contact us at 03 – 5622 1600 or email to pr@mgga.com.my for further information.