Screen 'Pendatang' in schools to dismantle prejudice - Finas boss

Independent film ‘Pendatang’ should be screened in schools, opined National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) chairperson Kamil Othman.

This, he said, was to encourage meaningful discussions.

"(Pendatang) should be screened at schools to invite discussions, and dismantle deep-seated perceptions and prejudices.

"Small steps towards a desired destination," he posted on X yesterday.

‘Pendatang’ is a dystopian thriller set in a fictional Malaysia where the different races are not allowed to mix by force of draconian law.

The story begins when a Chinese family moves into their new “allocated” house and discovers a small Malay girl hiding there, putting them in a moral quandary as to whether to evict and endanger her, or endanger themselves and smuggle her back to the "Malay area".

The film is screening on YouTube, a conscious decision made to avoid concerns about censorship.

Asked about this and whether the screenings of the film would be approved by the Film Censorship Board (LPF), Kamil was optimistic.

"Can't speak on behalf of LPF but looking at the film objectively, some leeway might be possible," he said in reply to another user on X. - Mkini