Meor Shariman
Puteri Gunung Ledang, Malaysia’s most expensive film to date, will be shown at the prestigious 61st Venice International Film Festival next month.
Executive producer Datuk Shazally Ramly said the RM16 million production will be screened for more than 2,000 delegates at the festival’s Great Spectacular Midnight Films showcase on Sept 5.
“Our entry to the film festival is a milestone for Malaysian cinema,” said Shazally at a Press conference here yesterday.
He said he and his team were taken by surprise when told that the film was chosen.
“When we submitted this film, we did not expect to receive this kind of attention.”
More than 5,000 films from around the world, including Hollywood productions, were submitted for the festival and about 2,000 were shortlisted. Of the shortlisted titles, fewer than 200 were chosen and only a lucky few will be shown at the festival.
“I am proud to say that Malaysia, through Puteri Gun- ung Ledang is the only country in South-east Asia that was chosen for the festival.”
Besides Malaysia, the two other Asian countries with entries in the festival are South Korea and Japan.
Shazally said the film’s director, Saw Teong Hin, is also eligible to compete in the category of first-time directors and stands a chance to win 100,000 euros.
“Puteri Gunung Ledang made international headlines as the first Malaysian entry in a major film festival.
“The Italian media announced that Puteri Gunung Ledang was one of the festival’s brightest prospects.”
He said there was no doubt that Puteri Gunung Ledang would be screened in cinemas throughout Europe.
“We are in discussion to take part in the Toronto Film Festival in Canada, which will help ensure that Puteri Gunung Ledang gets a screening in North America.”
He said the success of the movie in gaining interest of international film organisers is proof that a local production can compete in the international film circuit.
Puteri Gunung Ledang opens on Aug 31.
The epic love story stars Tiara Jacquelina and M. Nasir.
The producers have allocated RM4.5 million for its marketing campaign.
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