Noticias

As we mentioned many times before, Rotterdam is the best international festival in Europe in terms of Asian selection, and the programmers did not disappoint once more. Even more so since the selection stays, thankfully, away from the stereotypes about what an Asian film is or it should be. Furthermore, the focus in S/Se Asia was definitely once more rewarding, with the emphasis in Indonesia obviously being indicative of how close IFFR is following what is happening in the region. The presence of the likes of Miike and Toyoda, along with the ‘film of the year’ “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In” covered the Far East.

Here is the sum of our articles for IFFR 2025.

1. Film Review: Kajolrekha (2024) by Giasuddin Selim

Though highly watchable, the movie ultimately lacks the social realism or revolutionary edge that might make for an interesting contemporary adaptation of this ancient tale. Instead, the director has made a comfortable,...

If you’re familiar with Malaysian cinema, “The Good Loan Sharks” is nothing short of an all-star event. For those less familiar with the local stardom, this musical slash buddy-film is directed by Datuk (“Sir”) Afdlin Shauki, a multi-talented (acid jazz) musician turned late show presenter and actor, already well-established as filmmaker with movies like the bittersweet series “Papadom” (2009) or the improbable “Sumolah” (2007). While he is often playing central roles on his opus, this time he takes on a smaller part as Lan Panda, the ultimate loan shark, to make way for the famous comedic duo Johan and Zizan, collectively known as Jozan. Having made their name in the reality stand-up show Raja Lawak (“King of Comedy”) and its follow-up, the film serves as a vehicle to showcase their duet. Alongside them is Liyana Jasmay, a former TV drama child star, cosmetics brand ambassador and two-time Best Actress winner at the Malaysian Film Festival,...