The 9th Malaysia International Film Festival has unveiled its ambassador roster and key programming highlights for its 2026 edition, set to run July 18–25 in Kuala Lumpur.
Comedic actor and entertainer Zizan Razak and actor Jack Tan have been confirmed as new ambassadors for the festival, known as MIFFest. They join returning ambassador Daiyan Trisha, now in her second year with the festival, and Bront Palarae, who marks his seventh consecutive year in the role. The cross-generational lineup is intended to reflect the breadth of Malaysia’s contemporary film industry.
The 9th edition adopts the theme “Resonance,” conceived by MIFFest founder and president Joanne Goh, who frames cinema as a medium whose impact outlasts the viewing experience itself. “Films do not end when the screen fades to black,” Goh said. “They echo in conversations, in memory, and in the quiet hope of those seeking dignity and truth. At MIFFest, these echoes converge, amplifying the courage of storytellers and the urgency of their voices.”
The festival will again open at MyTown Shopping Centre, with GSC International Screens continuing as official cinema partner. Strategic support comes from the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS), whose CEO Dato’ Azmir Saifuddin Bin Mutalib noted at the press conference that MIFFest has grown into a cultural platform connecting Malaysia to regional and international film networks.
On the programming front, ASEAN On Screen returns for its second edition, building on its 2025 debut during Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship. The initiative brings together curated screenings, industry forums, and networking sessions spotlighting Southeast Asian cinema. A new partnership with the Asian World Film Festival (AWFF 2026) will see a selection of ASEAN On Screen titles travel to a dedicated segment titled “Focus on ASEAN Countries, Presented by MIFFest,” extending the reach of regional films to international audiences.
MIFFest has also entered a new collaboration with Kampong Film Lab, the filmmaker development arm of the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (JAFF), which will serve as program activation partner. The tie-up will see both festivals jointly run a program for emerging filmmakers centered on the use of artificial intelligence in the creative process.
A newly announced Russian Film Week, developed in partnership with Roskino and the Russian Ministry of Culture, will present five recent Russian titles with English subtitles, all offered free of charge. The program is intended to lay the groundwork for sustained creative exchange between Malaysia and Russia. MIFFest also reaffirmed its ongoing collaboration with the High Commission of India in Kuala Lumpur and India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, continuing its role as a showcase for Indian cinema in the Malaysian market.
Alongside the main festival, an immersive audiovisual installation titled “Algorithmic Organisms 2.0” by Dutch artist 0010×0010 (Ray Tijssen) will run July 4–19 at The Grey Box, GMBB Kuala Lumpur. Presented by Jazzy Group with support from the National Art Gallery Malaysia, the work places audiences inside an environment where AI-driven imagery, moving images, and sound shift in real time. Organizers are positioning it as the country’s first major AI generative art experience.
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