The ninth Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) opened on July 18 at MyTown Shopping Centre, kicking off an eight-day showcase of international cinema and marking the festival’s official recognition from ASEAN Records.
The opening ceremony drew filmmakers, industry leaders and stars to a red carpet ahead of the evening’s program.
Joanne Goh, founder and president of MIFFest, delivered the welcome address alongside this year’s festival ambassadors, Bront Palarae, Daiyan Trisha and Jack Tan. Goh outlined the inspiration behind the festival’s 2026 theme.
“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 the cinema, and the connections that film creates across cultures, generations, and borders,” Goh said.
Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, chair of Tourism Malaysia, addressed the audience, reaffirming support for MIFFest’s role in strengthening the country’s creative industry and cultural diplomacy. Datuk Bahria Mohd Tamil, deputy secretary general (strategic communications and creative industry) at the Ministry of Communications, and Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib, CEO of the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS), also attended. Goh presented tokens of appreciation to the festival ambassadors during the ceremony.
