KLEFF 2024 to Celebrate Sustainability Through Cinema

[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE]

16th Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Fest 2024 (KLEFF 2024) to Celebrate Sustainability Through Cinema

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — April 1st, 2024

The 16th International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Fest (KLEFF) is thrilled to announce its return this year! KLEFF is back with renewed vigor, both as a physical and digital film festival. Mark your calendars for October 2024 as we embark on another inspiring journey of environmental awareness and advocacy.

A Thank You to Our Supporters

The festival committee extends its heartfelt gratitude to the partners, exhibitors, filmmakers, performers, vendors, workshop coordinators, volunteers, and visitors who supported the 15th edition of KLEFF 2023. Your unwavering commitment to environmental consciousness and sustainable living has been the driving force behind our success. Together, we’ve made a significant impact, and we’re excited to continue this journey with you.

Water: Sustainably Yours

Inspired by the 2024 World Water Day theme, KLEFF breathes new life into its mission. This year’s concept revolves around the idea of emphasizing the importance of responsible water stewardship and sustainability. Water serves as one of the elements that forms a nexus at the heart of sustainable development. Apart from Water – Food – Energy, we believe that every individual’s actions matter, and collectively, we can create positive change. 

Thus, supported and funded by the National Commission of Water Services (SPAN), KLEFF 2024 will be mobilized to be one of the platforms that utilize audiovisual outreach in bringing awareness and action in sustainable water management.

       This is exactly what KLEFF2024’s mission is since its birth 16 years ago: connect everyone, spread every word, and empower and inspire everybody to adopt a sustainable lifestyle, a lifestyle based on wise and informed decision-making process towards the well-being of all generations, now and the future.

       ’Water: Sustainably Yours’ highlights the importance of sincere and internally-motivated behavior based on a good informed decision-making process. This is the main aim of KLEFF: to provide the most updated information to the public to empower them to act wisely and sincerely.

– Amlir Ayat, Honorary Advisor of KLEFF

Let’s inspire reflection, awareness, and action on water-related environmental issues, highlighting the connection between water conservation, ecosystem health, and human well-being.

Film Submission Is Now Open

Filmmakers, storytellers, and eco-enthusiasts, this is your moment! Film submissions for KLEFF 2024 are now open on 1st April 2024 via our FilmFreeway platform: https://filmfreeway.com/kleff. While the film festival looks for thought-provoking films that are relevant to the KLEFF’s theme – ‘Water: Sustainably Yours’, stories that surround the three pillars of sustainability – environment, society and economy, are also encouraged. Whether you’re a seasoned filmmaker or a budding talent, KLEFF 2024 serves as a platform for you to share your vision, stories and messages that help contribute to the global dialogue on sustainability. 

Awards

KLEFF 2024 will recognize outstanding contributions through various awards:

  1. General Awards (not limited to the festival’s theme: ‘Water: Sustainably Yours)
  • Best Feature Film Award
  • Best Short Documentary Award
  • Best Short Film Award
  • Best Animation Award
  • Best Public Service Announcement (PSA) Award
  1. Special Awards
  • Special Water Sustainability Film Award (open to films that relate to the festival theme: ‘Water: Sustainably Yours)
  • Best ASEAN Story Award (open to films related to ASEAN countries, not limited to the festival’s theme: ‘Water: Sustainably Yours )
  • Special Jury Award (not limited to the festival’s theme)
  • Special Merit Award (open to Malaysian filmmakers)

Join Us on the Journey

As we gear up for KLEFF 2024, we invite you to be part of this transformative experience. Submit your films, engage with our community, and let’s create ripples of change together.

For more information, visit our official website: 16th International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Fest 2024. Stay tuned for updates, and let’s make KLEFF 2024 a celebration of sustainability, creativity, and hope!

About KLEFF

The International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Fest (KLEFF), conceptualized and organized by EcoKnights, a not-for-profit environmental organization, has been Malaysia’s homegrown environmental film festival for the past 16 years. Through film screenings, on-ground activities, and strategic partnerships, KLEFF aims to build a nation of Environment-Society-Governance (ESG)-conscious individuals. Our platform focuses on critical sustainability topics, empowering audiences to make wise choices.

Connect with KLEFF:

KLEFF Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KLEFFMY/ 
KLEFF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kleffmy/
EcoKnights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EcoKnights
EcoKnights Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EcoKnights
AirKita Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/airkitatanggungjawabbersama/
AirKita Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/airkita_malaysia

-end-

Press Contact:
Sarah Shahab, Festival Coordinator, sarah@ecoknights.org.my

Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival (KLEFF) Announces Finalist Film Selections and Inaugural Physical Screenings

[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE]

Kuala Lumpur, 1st February 2024 — The Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival (KLEFF) is thrilled to announce the selection of finalists for its highly anticipated finale film screenings. After careful consideration and deliberation, the festival committee has curated an exceptional lineup of films across five categories, showcasing compelling narratives and thought-provoking content on environmental sustainability.

The selected films span a diverse range of genres and formats, including feature films, short films, documentaries, animations, and public service announcements. Each film offers a unique perspective on pressing environmental issues and highlights the collective pursuit of low-impact living.

Congratulations to the following finalist films (in alphabetical order):

1. Feature Film / Long Documentary

Film TitleFilm Maker
Forest StoriesBy Ekaterina Piltenko & Olga Ramora
Guardians of The ShoreBy Mark Nyambang
Mentawai – Souls of the ForestBy Joo Peter
Mekong ApocalypseBy Michael Buckley
UnhuskBy Jue Wang

2. Short Documentary

Film TitleFilm Maker
Hearing from the DolphinBy 弘榤 張
Lost LandsBy Andy Ball
Resan, The Story of TreesBy Antonieta Buaton
The IndicatorsBy Kurt Sensenbrenner
To SowBy Gravinda Putra Perdana
Vegan TableBy Moonkyung Kim & Seong Heo

3. Short Film

Film TitleFilm Maker
BoréeBy Alex Dubois
Dragon FruitBy J.Brown
The Memories of UsBy Jerry Foo Thai Li
#planBBy Ulrica de la Mar

4. Animation

Film TitleFilm Maker
ChimborazoBy Keila Cepeda
Footprints In The ForestBy Juhaidah Joemin & Sandra Khoo
Go Go Giwas: Sowing Dream SeedsBy Suet-Er Hee & Yi-Feng Kao
The Life and Times of JenahBy Quek Yew Aun
The Menace from AboveBy Mariam Khayat

5. Public Service Announcement (PSA)

Film TitleFilm Maker
HijauBy Zulzarif Irfan
Mana Aku TauBy Mohsen Bin Miskam
PelampungBy Mohsen Bin Miskam
Tiga Tips Jimat AirBy Hafiz Bin Abdullah Sima
Water Scarcity and Climate Change – A Wake-Up CallBy Azilah Abd Aziz
What Goes Up Must Come DownBy Farah Landemaine & Abyan Junus-Nishizawa

These films serve as powerful vehicles for raising awareness, sparking conversations, and inspiring positive action towards a more sustainable future. In an exciting development, the selected films will be featured in the screenings at the EcoCine Zone, Cengal Room, located within the picturesque IWK Eco Park Pantai Dalam. This marks the first physical screening event for KLEFF since the onset of the global pandemic, underscoring the festival’s commitment to adapting and evolving in challenging times.

The physical screenings will take place on the 17th and 18th of February, offering attendees a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in captivating films and engage with fellow enthusiasts in a safe and inspiring environment.

KLEFF extends heartfelt congratulations to all the finalists and expresses gratitude to the filmmakers for their contributions to the festival. The selected films represent the best of environmental filmmaking and serve as catalysts for positive change.

For more information about the Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Fest or its organizer, EcoKnights, please contact info@kleff.my.  or the festival manager, Nabila at nabila@ecoknights.org.my. For KLEFF partnership and collaboration, you may reach our KLEFF Festival Director at fadly@ecoknights.org.my.


ABOUT THE KUALA LUMPUR ECO FILM FEST (KLEFF)

The International KLEFF is Malaysia’s first and longest-serving platform promoting sustainable living through showcases of environment-themed films, workshops, talks, exhibitions, Impact Market, local performances and other engaging activities. Organized by EcoKnights, KLEFF features groundbreaking films that kindle important dialogues, traversing the relationship between humans and their environments, challenging how people think about the natural world and inspiring them to discuss, explore and act on important environmental issues. For more information about KLEFF, kindly visit its official page at kleff.my and for more current updates, find us on Facebook at @KualaLumpurEcoFilmFestival and Instagram and Twitter.


ABOUT ECOKNIGHTS

EcoKnights is an environmental non-governmental organization (NGO) registered with the Registrar of Societies Malaysia. EcoKnights’ core focus areas are environmental education; smart partnerships; strategic engagement and on-ground efforts as well as capacity building of youths. In these areas, EcoKnights focuses on working with key  stakeholders to deliver strategically designed developmental interventions, further contributing to positive social, environmental and economic change. More information about EcoKnights can be obtained from www.ecoknights.org.my. For more current updates on what EcoKnights is up to, find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @EcoKnights.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Shahirah Anuar,
Sustainability Communication Officer of EcoKnights,
shahirah@ecoknights.org.my / 01156342344

KLEFF 2023 OFFICIAL VENUE PARTNER

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

We are thrilled to announce that the Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival (KLEFF) 2023 has officially partnered with Indah Water Konsortium, IWK Eco Park @ Pantai Dalam, Kuala Lumpur as our Official Venue Partner. This partnership marks a significant milestone in our commitment to promoting environmental awareness through the power of film.

IWK Eco Park, located in Pantai Dalam Kuala Lumpur, is an iconic venue known for its commitment to sustainability and community engagement. Their dedication to these values aligns seamlessly with the mission of KLEFF, making this partnership a natural fit.

The KLEFF 2023 will take place from 17 to 18 of February 2024. We are excited to host a diverse range of eco-friendly films, green workshops, recyclables collection campaign, live performances, forum and panel discussions that inspire action and foster understanding of the environment and sustainability.

We are grateful to IWK Eco Park Pantai Dalam for their support and look forward to a successful event that will leave a lasting impact on our community.

Visit our website for more information about KLEFF.

ANNOUNCING KLEFF 2023 THEME: LOW IMPACT LIVING

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Is there a place where all 8 billion of us can live happily ever after? It’s a bold, utopian question. In the real world, we may have different approaches to living without constant concern. We’re on the verge of urgency, actively building a community that embraces the world’s vulnerability—climate change and environmental issues.

We are thrilled to unveil the theme for the Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival (KLEFF) 2023: “Low Impact Living”. This theme embodies our dedication to promoting sustainable practices that reduce our environmental footprint.

What is Low Impact Living?
Low Impact Living is a lifestyle choice that aims to minimize one’s impact on the environment. It involves making conscious decisions in our daily lives, from the products we buy to the way we travel, to reduce waste and conserve resources.

KLEFF 2023: A Platform for Change
The KLEFF 2023, scheduled from [Start Date] to [End Date] at IWK Eco Park Pantai Dalam, will delve into the concept of Low Impact Living. We will showcase a diverse range of films, conduct workshops, and host panel discussions that inspire action and foster understanding of the environment and sustainability.

Join Us in Making a Difference
We invite everyone to join us in exploring the possibilities of Low Impact Living. Discover how you can make a difference and contribute to the health of our planet. Every small change can have a big impact.

For more information about KLEFF 2023 and the theme of Low Impact Living, please visit our website.

Together, let’s embrace Low Impact Living and create a sustainable future for all.

Visit our website for more information about KLEFF.

15th International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Dear friends, supporters, and enthusiasts of the International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Fest!

We are excited to announce the return of the Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival (KLEFF) for its 2023 edition. After a challenging period, we are back with renewed energy and commitment to promote environmental awareness and sustainable living through the power of film.

The KLEFF 2023 will take place from 17th to 18th February 2024. This year, we are set to host a diverse range of eco-friendly films, green workshops, recyclables collection campaign, live performances, forum and panel discussions that inspire action and foster understanding of the environment and sustainability.

We invite everyone to join us in this celebration of film and the environment, as we strive to make a positive impact on our community and the world.

Visit our website for more information about KLEFF

KLEFF 2021 Announces Film Finalists

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 15th, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The 14th International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Fest 2021 (KLEFF 2021) has announced that 94 films have been selected to be screened virtually in the festival. Out of the submitted films, 20 films made it to be the finalists of the 5 main film categories of KLEFF 2021.

The 5 main film categories are Best Feature Film/Full-Length Documentary, Best Short Documentary/TV Documentary, Best Short Film, Best Public Service Announcements (PSA), as well as Best Animation.

Below are the finalists for the 5 main film categories of KLEFF 2021:

  1. Best Feature Film / Full-Length Documentary Award (In Alphabetical order)
Film Title Film Maker Country
50 Shades of Green: The Complex Story of Palm Oil Khayriyyah Mohd Hanafiah, Andy Siti Nurhidayah Rahim Malaysia
CLIMATE FOR CHANGE: Renewing Energy Shanmuga Sundaram Singapore
CO2? CO-Nee! Joep van Dijk Netherlands
Day Zero Kevin Sim, Virginia Quinn United States
Once Upon A River: Bangladesh’s Delta Disaster Shehzad Hameed Ahmad Singapore
  1. Best Short Documentary Award (In Alphabetical order)
Film Title Film Maker Country
A Community Under Fire Harrison Thane, Matt Thane Australia
For Tomorrow Paradise Arrives Anna Hints Estonia
Growing Solutions Leo Horrigan United States
The Naked Arctic Adventure Paula Miquelis Singapore
  1. Best Short Film Award (In Alphabetical order)
Film Title Film Maker Country
Alles hat Grenzen NUR DER MONDFISCH NICHT Sylvia Eckermann, Gerald Nestler Austria
Birthplace Sil van der Woerd, Jorik Dozy Malaysia
Day zero Shubham Pandav India
Djibril’s Forest Thomas Ceulemans Belgium
  1. Best Animation Award (In Alphabetical order)
Film Title Film Maker Country
Blinded By Love Yige Yang United Kingdom
Pongo the Stolen Orangutan: How Law Can Heal Colin Systma United States
The Fourfold Alisi Telengut Canada
It’s Not The Oil, It’s The Practice Zul Ikhwan Aziz Malaysia
  1. Best Public Service Announcement Award (In Alphabetical order)
Film Title Film Maker Country
A Community, Fighting Zoe FitzPatrick Ireland
Gardener of the Sea Mok Man Ying Malaysia
The Seed Mauro Altschuler Argentina

The 14th Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Fest committee would like to congratulate the finalists of each categories of KLEFF 2021!

This year’s 12th KLEFF jury committee and judges are Fadly Bakhtiar, Festival Director of KLEFF 2020 and Programme Director of EcoKnights; OKJ, Singapore-based documentary storyteller of OKJWorks; Dr. Kendy Mitot, artist of the indigenous Bidayuh tribe in Sarawak; and Aore Ajoeni, technical officer and head of the research team in Klima Action Malaysia (KAMY).

For more information about the Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Fest or its organizer, EcoKnights, please contact info@kleff.my.  or the festival manager, Nabila at nabila@ecoknights.org.my. For KLEFF partnership and collaboration, you may reach our KLEFF Festival Director at fadly@ecoknights.org.my.

ABOUT THE KUALA LUMPUR ECO FILM FEST (KLEFF)

The International KLEFF is Malaysia’s first and longest-serving platform promoting sustainable living through showcases of environment-themed films, workshops, talks, exhibitions, Impact Market, local performances and other engaging activities. Organized by EcoKnights, KLEFF features groundbreaking films that kindle important dialogues, traversing the relationship between humans and their environments, challenging the way people think about the natural world and inspiring them to discuss, explore and act on important environmental issues. For more information about KLEFF, kindly visit its official page at kleff.my and for more current updates, find us on Facebook at @KualaLumpurEcoFilmFestival and Instagram and Twitter at @kleff_my.

ABOUT ECOKNIGHTS

EcoKnights is an environmental non-governmental organization (NGO) registered with the Registrar of Societies Malaysia. EcoKnights’ core focus areas are in environmental education; smart partnerships; strategic engagement and on-ground efforts as well as capacity building of youths. In these areas, EcoKnights focuses on working with key stakeholders to deliver strategically designed developmental interventions, further contributing to positive social, environmental and economic change. More information about EcoKnights can be obtained from www.ecoknights.org.my. For more current updates on what EcoKnights is up to, find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @EcoKnights.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Fara Amina Othman,
Digital Content Officer of EcoKnights,
fara@ecoknights.org.my / 011 – 23210492

The Film Lineup Of The 14th International KLEFF 2021

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 3rd 2021, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Fest 2021 (KLEFF2021) announces the film lineup for its 14th edition, continuing its festival committee EcoKnights’ effort in creating platform for sustainability communication and education via audio-visual tools.

The festival received a total submission of 136 environmental films from 39 countries this year, whereby the festival received the most submissions from its home country – Malaysia. Entering its second time as a digital film festival with the belief that films can be screened beyond limits via the festival’s digital screening platform, KLEFFlix, 94 films have been selected to be screened this year. Other than films that tells spectacular stories under the festival’s theme ‘Climate Change Yourself’, the festival will also screen films that focus on a spectrum of sustainability topics, thus having an myriad of interdisciplinary stories that voice out the 3 pillars of sustainability – environment, social and economy.

From 24th – 30th October, KLEFF 2021 will be happening virtually at 3 platforms – KLEFFlix, International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Malaysia (IGEM) 2021 and the Malaysian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Congratulations to the following selected films that will be screened in KLEFF 2021 (in alphabetical order):

50 Shades of Green: The Complex Story of Palm Oil

Discovering Langkawi with Irshad Mobarak – The Forest of Limestone OSHIKA – Winds Of Change Ticino, a source of biodiversity

A Community Under Fire

Discovering Langkawi with Irshad Mobarak – The Littoral Forest; Life At The Edge OUR 4°C-ABLE WORLD

tripleF***

A Community, Fighting Discovering Langkawi with Irshad Mobarak – The Magnificient Machinchang Forests Painting By Numbers

Voices of the River

A Coral’s Journey from Reef to Lab Discovering Langkawi with Irshad Mobarak – The Misunderstood Fig Tree Pepperwood: Rising From The Ashes

W.W.W.W.W

A journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step

Discovering Langkawi with Irshad Mobarak – The Mysterious Mangrove Pewén: The Earth will say We Are Nature

A River Reborn

Djibril’s Forest Poisoned Soil

Will You Hear Us

A Whale’s Worth DOKUMENTARI BURUNG WALIT Pongo the Stolen Orangutan: How law can heal

WORLD OF VIRUSES

Active (citizen)

DOKUMENTARI SAMPAH Pushed up the Mountain

Alles hat Grenzen NUR DER MONDFISCH NICHT

Emerald Forest – Return of the Tigers

Refugio

As Organism (Episode 1/ BrainDagger Films Presents: Knowledge is Good)

Episode 1: Project PULIH: Mending Broken Reefs

ROADS TO OUR HERITAGE

Bablu From Babylon

Epoch

ROADS TO OUR HERITAGE EP 2

Baghjan Reels

Eternal Harvest

Seaturtle watcher

Barricade

Extracted: Shimulala Shoulders Deep

Birthplace

For Tomorrow Paradise Arrives

Spring

Blinded By Love

Forest Hymn for Little Girls

Symbiosis

Cabo Verde – Island Jewel

Gaachh : The Tree

Terraform

Chimney of Death

Gardener of the Sea

The Bamboo Bridge

CHOUETTE

Growing Peace in the Middle East

The Broken Garden of the Sea

CLIMATE FOR CHANGE : Renewing Energy

Growing Solutions

The Circle of Life

CO2? CO-Nee!

HERBA AKAR GALAK

The Fourfold

Convergence

IFANG

The Green Amendment: New Mexico, Part One

Cracked

In the name of the Olive

The Land of Griffons

Day Zero

It’s not the oil, it’s the practice

The Naked Arctic Aventure

Discovering Hydrogen

May they Fly

The Secrets of Wild Honey

Discovering Langkawi with Irshad Mobarak – A Walk Around Datai Bay

Messages from the Animals: Otter Love

The seed

Discovering Langkawi with Irshad Mobarak – Adaptability; Lesson From Nature

Midang Midang

THE SHAMANS´ NIGHTMARE

Discovering Langkawi with Irshad Mobarak – In Balance with Nature

Netejant la Terra / Cleaning the Earth

The Weather Diaries

Discovering Langkawi with Irshad Mobarak – Passages Through Time

Not Sinking, Swarming

The Whale from Lorino

Discovering Langkawi with Irshad Mobarak – The Fabulous Flying 5 Once Upon A River: Bangladesh’s Delta Disaster They Keep Quiet So We Make Noise

KLEFF 2021 film competition finalists and film screening schedule will be announced in late September. Tickets for screening will be open for sale in early October.

For more information about the Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Fest or its organizer, EcoKnights, please contact info@kleff.my.  or the festival manager, Nabila at nabila@ecoknights.org.my. For KLEFF partnership and collaboration, you may reach our KLEFF Festival Director at fadly@ecoknights.org.my.

ABOUT THE KUALA LUMPUR ECO FILM FEST (KLEFF)

The International KLEFF is Malaysia’s first and longest-serving platform promoting sustainable living through showcases of environment-themed films, workshops, talks, exhibitions, Impact Market, local performances and other engaging activities. Organized by EcoKnights, KLEFF features groundbreaking films that kindle important dialogues, traversing the relationship between humans and their environments, challenging the way people think about the natural world and inspiring them to discuss, explore and act on important environmental issues. For more information about KLEFF, kindly visit its official page at kleff.my and for more current updates, find us on Facebook at @KualaLumpurEcoFilmFestival and Instagram and Twitter at @kleff_my.

ABOUT ECOKNIGHTS

EcoKnights is an environmental non-governmental organization (NGO) registered with the Registrar of Societies Malaysia. EcoKnights’ core focus areas are in environmental education; smart partnerships; strategic engagement and on-ground efforts as well as capacity building of youths. In these areas, EcoKnights focuses on working with key stakeholders to deliver strategically designed developmental interventions, further contributing to positive social, environmental and economic change. More information about EcoKnights can be obtained from www.ecoknights.org.my. For more current updates on what EcoKnights is up to, find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @EcoKnights.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Fara Amina Othman,
Digital Content Officer of EcoKnights,
fara@ecoknights.org.my / 011 – 23210492

14th International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Fest – Make Films, Make Changes!

[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE]

10th March 2021, Kuala Lumpur – The Kuala Lumpur Eco FIlm Fest (KLEFF) is back for its 14th instalment!

Malaysia is home to South-East Asia’s first and longest-running homegrown environmental film festival for the past 13 years; EcoKnights is proud to announce that the 14th International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Fest (KLEFF) has launched its call for film submission on the 10th of March 2021 via FilmFreeway, a global digital platform for filmmakers to submit their films to hundreds of film festivals.

With KLEFF’s strong advocacy in climate change, the theme this year is, ‘Climate Change (Yourself)’; whereby the festival seeks for thought-provoking films that explore self-initiated changes that we can make on different levels and capacities, with the right mindsets and habits.

Returning from the 2020 pandemic phase that marked a new beginning for KLEFF as a digital film festival, KLEFF is continuing its role as a media platform for filmmaking, story-telling and knowledge-sharing in the global transformational journey towards sustainability, in society, economy, and environment.

Festival Director Fadly Bakhtiar quoted, “The decision to go on with KLEFF despite the pandemic is motivated by our firm beliefs that environmental advocacy to fight climate change must go on, and the call for climate action never stops, even amidst a global pandemic. Last year’s debut as a digital festival was a huge milestone with a steep learning curve for the team. We received encouraging response and support from our loyal supporters, thus proving that we need to be innovative and dynamic to keep our mission going now that the festival has evolved digitally.”

He also shared his views on this year’s theme, and believes it will shine a spotlight on the important issue at hand for the general public and audience by highlighting the importance of behavioural change in societies, as societal norms are a key factor in addressing climate issues.

Submission is open on the 10th of March until 25th June 2021, whereby the films will stand a chance to be screened in the festival as well as run for various awards in the KLEFF Film Competition, after going through an evaluation process by the festival committee and film panel jury. The festival accepts films of different genres which are long documentaries, feature films, short documentaries, short films, animation and Public Service Announcement (PSA). Chosen films will be screened during the festival via its online screening platform, KLEFFlix.
“For the past 13 years, we have been receiving films with inspiring stories that advocate for various sustainability topics and the call for action to make changes for a better world. That’s the beauty and strength of the filmmakers, they are educators and advocators through their lenses and story-telling. Meanwhile film festivals like KLEFF are the right platform to showcase the filmmakers’ magic,” commented Nabila Shohimi, Festival Manager.

Interested or aspiring filmmakers can submit their films in FilmFreeway: KLEFF 2021 within the timeline and film submission deadlines.

Deadlines Dates

Submission Fees

Earlybird Deadline 30th April 2021 ·   Long Documentary/Feature Film: USD 25

·   Short Documentary: USD 15

·   Short Film: USD 10

·   Animation: USD 10

·   PSA: USD 10

Regular Deadline 31st May 2021 ·   Long Documentary/Feature Film: USD 30

·   Short Documentary: USD 20

·   Short Film: USD 15

·   Animation: USD 15

·   PSA: USD 15

Late Deadline 25th June 2021 ·   Long Documentary/Feature Film: USD 35

·   Short Documentary: USD 25

·   Short Film: USD 20

·   Animation: USD 20

·   PSA: USD 20

In case both potential filmmakers and the audience would like to have a taste of what is to come, head on down to KLEFF 2020 Films where you can find the past submissions. We recommend filmmakers to read the full Rules and Regulations before submitting your films.

After the launch of film submission, KLEFF will be building up more content and relationships to add more value to the festival’s journey in climate action and other sustainability missions. The festival committee invites those who share the common ground with KLEFF or have impactful collaboration ideas such as outreach efforts, resource mobilization and filmmaking empowerment, to develop partnerships with KLEFF.

The festival has previously collaborated with the International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Malaysia (IGEM) for 5 years in sharing outreach platforms to educate more people about sustainability. Other than that, KLEFF has worked with a few partners to award and recognise winning filmmakers – River of Life (ROL) for the ‘River of Life Award’; and United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) and Malaysian Public Work Department (JKR) for the UNDP x JKR Energy Efficiency in Buildings Award.

For more information pertaining to the festival, visit the official KLEFF 2021 website.

Contact details:
General: info@kleff.my
Fadly Bakhtiar: fadly@ecoknights.rog.my
Nabila Shohimi: nabila@ecoknights.org.my

The Prestigious Award Ceremony of the 13th International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Fest (KLEFF 2020) Takes off into the Digital Realm amidst a Global Pandemic

KLEFF 2020 Virtual Award Ceremony Poster

[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE]

22nd October 2020, Kuala Lumpur – The 13th International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Fest (KLEFF 2020) Award Ceremony is a prestigious event to give recognition to the work of filmmakers, cinematographers, storytellers and concerned experts  from around the globe to shine light on climate crisis issues and distressing environmental problems worldwide.

The digital KLEFF 2020 received a total submission of 118 climate- and environment-themed films from 44 countries globally and out of these, 59 deeply thought-provoking films of various genres and lengths are screened throughout the week-long festival (19-25 October) via KLEFFlix, KLEFF official Digital Streaming Platform.

MEDIA KIT LINK: http://bit.ly/KLEFFMediaKit2020

The call for a digitally-run award ceremony did not come easy for the committee, yet decided necessary, especially now when it is crucial to continue the advocacy for climate justice, in line with this year’s theme of Climate Injustice: Pick a Side.

The ceremony was graced by Guests of Honour – Royal Patron of IGEM; Yang Amat Mulia Tunku Zain Al-Abidin Ibni Tuanku Muhriz, Dr. Nagulendran Kangayatkarasu from the Ministry of Environment and Water (KASA), KLEFF Festival Founder and Honourary Advisor; Dr Yasmin Rasyid and KLEFF Festival Director; Fadly Bakhtiar, with members of media, fellow KLEFF filmmakers, supporters and viewers tuning in from the comfort of their home – made possible with KLEFF official Digital Platform Partner, the Virtual International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Malaysia (IGEM) 2020.

In this current situation where people are staying at home to curb the spread of Covid-19, the call for action for climate justice has never been more convenient and pertinent.  

“I am immensely grateful to the works of filmmakers who provide us with entertainment and enlightenment when we are stuck at home, even more so, the talented people of the cinematic world who also strives for a more sustainable world”, praised Yang Amat Mulia Tunku Zain Al-Abidin during his opening speech.

“For the past 13 years, EcoKnights has been immensely productive, from getting huge interest from the public with over 1,000 environmentally films being submitted to the festival from over 100 countries, in the past years,” he added.

Founded and initiated by non-governmental environmental organization EcoKnights, KLEFF is Malaysia’s longest-serving platform that promotes the notion of sustainable living through the power of audio/visual materials.

“KLEFF started with a crazy vision [that] I had in 2008, where we required a more creative approach to open up the mindsets of Malaysians to understand what sustainability is all about… Films make profound impact on people – it changes mindsets, shapes perspectives, gives you knowledge and information, and more importantly it motivates you to take actions,” shared Dr Yasmin Rasyid, KLEFF Festival Founder and Honorary Advisor.

This year’s line-up of films was none like the committee has ever seen before. Carefully evaluated by KLEFF 2020 juries – Elina Jani, Iedil Dzuhrie Alauddin, Dr Chen Pelf Nyok, Dr Kendy Mitot, Justin Wong, headed by KLEFF Festival Director, Fadly Bakhtiar, five (5) major categories were awarded to the winning filmmakers; Best Feature Film / Long Documentary, Best Short Film, Best Short Documentary, Best Public Service Announcement, Best Animation – with the annual Special Jury Award.  

“I, as one of the juries for this year’s festival, I have watched the films and I am deeply moved, inspired and motivated by all of the filmmakers hard work and we, the KLEFF committee hope that more people, if possible all of Malaysians and everyone in this world can at least manage to watch this films once in their lives or more and that they will be empowered as how these films have empowered us here at KLEFF,” commends Fadly during his opening remark.

Evolving with the digital trend and adapting to the new norm may be grappling to some during these unprecedented times. Nevertheless, one thing that EcoKnights as the organizer of KLEFF discovers is that digital advocacy must continue – especially in the current era of The Information Age, where news travel faster and important messages can be shared to a wider mass digitally.

This year’s KLEFF 2020 Award Recipients go to:

  1. Best Feature Film / Long Documentary awarded to The Future of Flight by Larissa Klinker (Germany)
  2. Best Short Film awarded to It’s Look Sunshine by Kim Seunghwan (South Korea)
  3. Best Short Documentary awarded to From Kurils with Love by Taylor Reese (United States)
  4. Best Public Service Announcement awarded to USLP Shower by Bauddhayan Mukherji
  5. Best Animation awarded to Gon, The Little Fox by Takeshi Yashiro (Japan)
  6. Special Jury Award awarded to From Kurils with Love by Taylor Reese (United States)

 

-End-

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL KUALA LUMPUR ECO FILM FEST (KLEFF)

The International KLEFF is Malaysia’s first and longest-serving platform promoting sustainable living through showcases of environment-themed films, workshops, talks, exhibitions, Green Market, local performances and other engaging activities. KLEFF features ground breaking films that kindle important dialogues, traversing the relationship between humans and their environments, challenging the way people think about the natural world and inspiring them to discuss, explore and act on important environmental issues.

KLEFF 2020 is still on-going till 25 October with more line-ups of sustainability-themed activities from film screenings, workshops and talks, a fundraising musical gig and moreFurther information may be found at kleff.my or KLEFF social media pages @kleff_my. 

ABOUT ECOKNIGHTS®

EcoKnights® is a not-for-profit environmental organisation that provides and delivers development and environmental interventions to communities, government agencies, learning institutions, and companies to mobilise and catalyse the stakeholders towards sustainable development across trans- and interdisciplinary fields to build bridges towards achieving sustainable communities and companies across five main pillars. 

The pillars are CSR and Partnership, Public Outreach, Community Development & Education (CDE), Rehabilitation, Restoration and Conservation (RRC) as well as Youth Development & Volunteerism (YDV), supported by Sustainability Communications. Each pillar helps to strengthen the legacy of EcoKnights as it empowers the Knights to ideate, create, run and organise meaningful projects to impart long-lasting sustainable and economic impact to the country.

_________________________________________________________________________________

*For any media inquiries, kindly contact Festival Media Manager, Ms. Fara at fara@ecoknights.org.my

THE 13TH KL ECO FILM FESTIVAL 2020: CLIMATE (IN)JUSTICE – PICK A SIDE​

THE 13TH KL ECO FILM FESTIVAL 2020: CLIMATE (IN)JUSTICE – PICK A SIDE

Fadly Bakhtiar, Programme Director of EcoKnights, Festival Director of KLEFF 2020

21-Oct-20 14:30

The 13th International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival just kicked off on Monday with more than 50 films to be screened this week. We take a look at what is happening as the festival goes digital for the first time, and discuss why films are powerful tools to generate conversations on climate injustice.

Image Source: Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival

Produced by: Lim Sue Ann

Presented by: Tee Shiao Eek, Sharmilla Ganesan

Original source: https://www.bfm.my/podcast/the-bigger-picture/the-daily-digest/the-13th-kl-eco-film-festival-2020-climate-injustice

Proudly powered by Wpopal.com