FINAS wants to air old films

The National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) wishes to air old films regarding the real situation in Malaysia since about 60 years ago, in conjunction with the independence day celebration next month.

Finas chairman Zakaria Abdul Hamid said the corporation might work with Bernama to get 'airtime' to start a special channel for that purpose to provide information to the younger generations.

"We want to dig out those old films ... there are young people, our new generations, in fact me too, actually there are a lot of things I do not know, but we have all that (on film).

''For example, how do we started to open Felda (Federal Land Development Authority), we cut down trees, our parents did it ... the materials are all there (in old films) and we need to show them to our young people, "he said when he was a guest on Bernama TV's Ruang Bicara programme on Thursday.

Malaysia would celebrate its 63rd independence anniversary on Aug 31.

Meanwhile, Zakaria said he faced a big challenge to one day see local films gaining international recognition.

"The Oscar award is the highest level in the film industry. If in sports we can set a target for the gold medal (highest level achievement), why not in film, we should also have the ambition to win Oscars one day," he said.

-- BERNAMA