Film

Exploring issues of ‘othering’ through the lens of race and national identity

Malaysian and UK writers, filmmakers to raise awareness on social issues and problematic cultural norms, explore ways of bridging gaps through film

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 22 Sep 2021 11:00AM

Exploring issues of ‘othering’ through the lens of race and national identity — Sucka Punch, one of the short films that is part of the Uncertain Kingdom programme. – Pic courtesy of The British Council, September 22, 2021

THE British Council in Malaysia will host a panel discussion between eminent Malaysian and UK writers and filmmakers to encourage discourse on race and national identity through film.

The panel will draw parallels between the UK and Malaysia on the issues of othering (viewing or treating people as different from oneself), how they were shaped and the forms they take on now. The event on October 1 aims to raise awareness of the social issues and problematic cultural norms in these two societies and to explore ways of bridging the gap towards a more inclusive and cohesive society.

(L-R) Badrul Hisham Ismail, Nadia Denton, and Deborah Germaine Augustin. – Pic courtesy of The British Council

The panel discussion will feature Badrul Hisham Ismail, a Malaysian writer and filmmaker who has been featured in several international film festivals, Nadia Denton, who has worked in the UK film industry for 15 years as an impact producer, curator and author, and Deborah Germaine Augustin, a Malaysian writer who manages New Naratif, an online journalism platform for Southeast Asian current affairs.

The Conversation, one of the short films that is part of the Uncertain Kingdom programme. – Pic courtesy of The British Council

The themes explored will be based on The Uncertain Kingdom, an extraordinary collection of short films commissioned to capture a snapshot of the United Kingdom in 2020, as seen by visionary filmmakers. As part of the British Council in Malaysia’s Artists & Audiences programme, The Uncertain Kingdom will be made available free exclusively for a limited time from September 24 until October 10.

What's in a Name, one of the short films that is part of the Uncertain Kingdom programme. – Pic courtesy of The British Council

Featuring a range of genres and styles which mirror the diverse creatives behind the films and touching on critical subjects including migration, climate change, disability and homelessness, The Uncertain Kingdom reflects the filmmakers' unique perspectives on our unprecedented times.

The Pavement, one of the short films that is part of the Uncertain Kingdom programme. – Pic courtesy of The British Council

Florence Lambert, Head of Arts and Creative Industries, British Council says: ‘Our new Artists & Audiences programme aims to encourage and provide an avenue for discourse on critical global topics incited and facilitated by art. The programme also aims to stimulate connections between the British Council and the art sectors in Malaysia to carve pathways for future collaborations by raising awareness of UK art offerings while engaging with local grassroots creatives.’

Register to watch a selection of short films from The Uncertain Kingdom online and attend the accompanying panel discussion at https://www.britishcouncil.my/programmes/arts/work/aaa/uncertain-kingdom. – The Vibes, September 22, 2021