Malaysian film industry rapidly progressing - Finas

The number of films produced and screened in Malaysia recorded a triple increase last year compared to previous years.

National Film Development Corporation's (Finas) promotion and marketing director Abd Khalid Maulod said 73 locally produced films were screened in cinemas throughout last year compared to 49 in 2011, 39 in 2010 and 27 in 2009.

"The increase shows that the Malaysian film industry is progressing rapidly," he said during a chat session on the 'Halatuju Industri Perfileman Malaysia - Harapan dan Cabaran' (Direction of the Malaysian Film Industry - Aspirations and Challenges) here in conjunction with the Seri Temasek Awards tonight.

The Awards are to acknowledge the creative arts fraternity in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

Abd Khalid said Finas has identified three film festivals this year through which Malaysia would further promote and market local films internationally.

He said the three avenues were the European Film Market in Berlin, Cannes Film Festival and American Film Market.