The ninth Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) opened on July 18 at MyTown shopping mall, kicking off an eight-day international film showcase and marking the official recognition of the festival by ASEAN Records.

The opening ceremony attracted filmmakers, industry leaders and stars to a red carpet before the evening’s program.

Joanne Goh, founder and president of MIFFest, gave the welcome speech alongside this year’s festival ambassadors Bront Palarae, Daiyan Trisha and Jack Tan. Goh described the inspiration behind the festival’s theme for 2026.

“This year, our theme is Resonance. Resonance is the lasting echo of a story. It is the emotion that remains long after the credits roll, the conversations that continue beyond cinema, and the connections that film creates across cultures, generations and borders,” Goh said.

Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, president of Tourism Malaysia, addressed the audience and reaffirmed support for MIFFest’s role in strengthening the country’s creative industry and cultural diplomacy. Also in attendance were Datuk Bahria Mohd Tamil, deputy secretary-general (strategic communications and creative industry) of the Ministry of Communications, and Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib, chief executive officer of the National Film Development Corporation of Malaysia (FINAS). Goh presented tokens of appreciation to the festival ambassadors during the ceremony.

The centerpiece of the evening was ASEAN Records’ title presentation to MIFFest, recognizing the festival’s ASEAN On Screen platform and its Malaysia Golden Global Awards (MGGA) program as an enduring hub for Southeast Asian cinema. Goh accepted the recognition on behalf of the festival.

“When we launched ASEAN On Screen, our vision was to create a lasting platform where Southeast Asian stories could be celebrated, discovered and shared with the world. Through film, we hope to continue connecting our diverse voices with international audiences and inspiring future generations of storytellers,” Goh said.

ASEAN On Screen was launched in 2025 during Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship and has since become a permanent annual program at MIFFest. The ceremony also recognized the festival’s preliminary selection committee and the juries of the semi-final and final stages.

After the ceremony, guests moved to GSC MyTown for the world premiere of the festival’s inaugural film, “Baga: Tomorrow Belongs To No One,” directed by Ariff Zulkarnain. The film is set in a devout fishing community on the east coast of Malaysia, following two young lovers, Jani and Melur, whose plans for the future are upended by an unplanned pregnancy, poverty and addiction, pushing Jani into drug trafficking. Zulkarnain drew on his own education for history.

Leading the delegation for this year’s inaugural film were executive producer Shafiq Yusof, director Zulkarnain and Malaysian actor Syafiq Kyle, along with Cambodian actress Sarita Reth. Also in attendance were Jojo Goh, actor-director Nam Ron and actress June Lojong, among other guests from Malaysia and abroad.

This year’s program also includes Russian Cinema Week, presented with the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, Roskino and Mosfilm, offering free screenings of four Russian films. Additional strands include ASEAN On Screen, Hong Kong Cinema in Flux, New Rhythms of Indian Cinema, Open Air Cinema, masterclasses and industry forums.

The festival will run until July 25.