Recorded in September 2023, Fikri and friend of the show Hafiz fly off into a galaxy far, far away to talk about ‘Andor’. They touch base with the diversity in the story, and analyse how the show’s settings (such as Coruscant) and real-life locations (like London) can say about the classism and gentrification of society as a whole. Fikri is especia…

Fikri check in with friend of the show Iki Ali on his latest venture, the Brothers Ali YouTube channel. Launched earlier this year as a film review outlet with his brother, Sy Ali, they discuss its seeds of origin, and the scope and approach employed in their film discussion. They also consider how Iki’s film reviewing career (starting in 2010) has…

Fikri, Nadia and Tiara conclude their discussion on selected 2022 Indonesian films. Inspired by an article in The Jakarta Post, they run through the rigmarole of films they have seen (or not) in ‘Nana’, ‘Like & Share’, ‘The Big 4’ and ‘Ngeri-Ngeri Sedap’. They discuss the communist purge in the 1960s, contexts of female conditioning, the representa…

We kick off the next century of episodes by looking at selected Indonesian films from 2022. Friend of the show Nadia returns along with a debuting Tiara, and their passion for Indonesian cinema will guide Fikri through this discussion inspired by an article in The Jakarta Post. The first of two parts considers the films they have seen (or not!) in …

Finally, our 100th episode! Ezzah, Fikri and Muz got together (separately) to discuss their recent film experiences in Europe and Asia respectively. In the first part, Muz details the distinctions between the different parts of Italy and how it affects stories found in the likes of ‘Gomorrah’ and ‘Cinema Paradiso’. Later on, Fikri checks in on Ezza…

This episode is the final part of Fikri and Hassan Muthalib’s discussion of the Malayan Film Unit. They look at some key films like ‘The Red Book’ and ‘Abu Nawas’; given Fikri’s research interests, they also delve into the likes of ‘Letters from Home’ and ‘Rohani Steps Out’, highlighting how women are instructed to ‘behave’ in certain contexts. In …

In part one of a two-parter, Fikri invites friend of the show, film historian Hassan Muthalib, to discuss the Malayan Film Unit. Created by the British colonial administration, they talk about the start of Hassan’s film career and how he came to be involved with the department. They also get into its efficacy in combatting communism in the country,…

Fikri welcomes Emily to the show to talk about ‘Whispers of Silence’ and some aspects of Burmese cinema. In the first half, they focus on the short film by Zaw Bo Bo Hein and Mg Bhone, a film released in 2018. They consider the text in its social, political and religious contexts. Subsequently, Emily expands on filmmaking in Myanmar and the experie…

Fikri and Thim Kian conclude their discourse on thoughts inspired by a discussion between Ang Lee and Hirokazu Koreeda. Thim Kian reflects on his personal meetings with Koreeda and Ang Lee, when he took part in film academies led by the both filmmakers. They also discuss how both have affected Thim Kian’s own filmmaking efforts, especially in areas…

Recorded in 2021, Fikri and Thim Kian sit down for a chat about a discussion between Ang Lee and Hirokazu Koreeda. Held at the 2020 Berlin International Film Festival, it was one of their contributions to the We Are One: A Global Film Festival. Connecting it to their contexts, Fikri and Thim Kian consider the influence of Taiwanese and Japanese fil…

Fikri and Nadia waxes lyrical about the Indonesian film, ‘Penyalin Cahaya’. A big winner at Festival Film Indonesia 2021, the Wregas Banuteja-directed film has been gaining traction on Netflix. In this spoiler-filled discussion, Nadia considers how the film works in a cultural sense, as well as its depictions of university life. Meanwhile, Fikri to…

Fikri gets Muz back on the mic for the first time in a long time, as they discuss their thoughts on watching ‘Spiderman: No Way Home’ in cinemas. The first part covers their respective treks to cinemas in India and Indonesia, their first time back in front of the silver screen for nearly two years. Subsequently, they touch on the film itself, with …

The second of a two-parter features another three of the best of Indonesian cinema in 2021. Fikri and Nadia continue their verbal Venn diagram of films selected by The Jakarta Post and Festival Film Indonesia, settling on those they’ve seen. Touching on issues related to genre filmmaking and gender and sexuality, this concluding part reaches the en…

This episode is the first of two parts, looking at selected films from Indonesia in 2021. We welcome a special guest, Nadia Syarifah, whose keen interest in contemporary Indonesian cinema will guide Fikri and their discussion of films pruned from a listing by the Jakarta Post and the winners at Festival Film Indonesia, focusing on ‘Ali dan Ratu Rat…

This is the second part of a spoiler-filled discussion with Muzzamar Rahman about his film. Having discussed the narrative of ‘Prebet Sapu’, Fikri and (the other) Muz discuss how important Kuala Lumpur is not just as the film’s background and context, but also as the third main character of the film itself. They also get into the bigger picture pol…

This spoiler-filled episode is an exclusive interview with Muzzamer Rahman about his film, ‘Prebet Sapu’. Fikri and (the other) Muz sit down for an in-depth discussion about the craft and narrative of his film. The first of two parts considers the film’s origins and the difficulties Muz faced in getting the story going. He also highlights the impor…

88th time’s the charm! This episode is a special recording of Bebbra Mailin discussing the craft of her scriptwriting and storytelling. Made during a session with film students, it follows a screening of three of her films: ‘Langad di Odu’, ‘Rapuh’ and ‘Ninavau’. Along the way, Bebbra considers the personal nature of her stories and how to refine t…

This episode is an exclusive interview with subtitlist Iki Ali. He discusses the origins of his career as a subtitlist, the challenges he has faced thus far in his career, and how those interested may get their start in the field. Fikri and Iki also considers how certain languages may be prioritised over another (or not), how his work has affected …

The second of a two-parter completes Fikri and Ezzah’s discussion on short films made for VIVO and the Malaysian International Film Festival. This episode focuses on ‘Burger RM15’ by Muzzamer Rahman and Chong Keat Aun’s ‘The Incident’. Along the way, they share their love for Adibah Noor, find the perfect candidate to play Dr. Norman Yusoff in his …

Recorded some time ago, Fikri and Ezzah take a closer look at a number of short films made for VIVO and the Malaysian International Film Festival. The first of two parts focuses on Nadira Ilana’s ‘Mansau Ansau’ and ‘The Last Thread’ by Fabien Loo. The final section of the episode somehow became a rant against outlets cutting short the end credits o…

Probably the shortest run-up to an episode, ever! Having stumbled upon ‘Secangkir Kopi Bersama Dia’ by Faliq Shariff some time ago, Fikri stumbled out of bed for a lightning recording session with Muzzafar. Based on the short story of the same name by Syaihan Syafiq, it is inspired by the fact that Fikri and Muz previously made a short film, ‘Kopi …

Another week, another episode! Fikri and Ezzah sit down to discuss selected films from the 17th Mini Film Festival. The three films are ‘Tempat Letak Kereta’, ‘The Dalang’s Tale’ and ‘Kaalam Maari Pochu’. Nominated in the Open Category of the festival, this complements our previous coverage of the category’s other films. They discuss how the films …

In our 82nd episode, Fikri and Ezzah share their thoughts about Chili Powder and Thinner. A short animation looking at the issue of police brutality in Malaysia, it has caused some controversy, with its producers questioned by the authorities. They discuss the filmmaking style, considering how using animation for real-life events may affect its rec…

For this episode, we're going to go back... way back, to 1962! Fikri sits down with special guest, film historian and all-round good guy Hassan Muthalib in discussing 'Mandi Safar'. Directed by Mohd Zain Ibrahim, the film depicts a Malay tradition no longer practiced as it's deemed to be 'unIslamic'. We discuss how close the film's representation m…

Let’s get ready to rumble! Fikri is back with Tony Pietra Arjuna for the second part of their discussion of his film, ‘Shadowplay’. This episode’s focus is on the film’s geography and distribution methods. Fikri is especially interested in the portrayal of Kuala Lumpur, and Tony divulges how the city’s development transfigured the cityscape as both…

This episode features Tony Pietra Arjuna in the hotseat! With his film ‘Shadowplay’ dropping on KiniDia, Fikri figures the time is right for an in-depth discussion into the craft of the film. The first of a two-parter, this week focuses on the narrative arc and origin, as well as how the characters are developed. Along the way, they consider the in…

Back after a hiatus! Fikri and Ezzah sink their teeth into a number of juicy news bits. First up is a look at Disney+ Hotstar, which finally made its debut in Malaysia on 1st June 2021. They consider the role it plays in bring Malaysian films and television shows to new audiences, and how it fits into the local streaming landscape. In the second ha…

Recorded in January 2021, this week's episode is a special look at digital technologies, identity formation and what the future might be like for media like film. Hosted by Tan Meng Yoe of Monash University, it is a follow up to a guest lecture conducted by Fikri on the same topic. Additionally, these two can't make such points without a little bit…

The second of a two-parter features Fikri and Ezzah concluding their discussion on films from the SWANA Film Festival. Organised by Christina Hajjar and the University of Manitoba in February 2021, the films touch on issues related to diaspora, dis/connection, agency and change. Here, Fikri and Ezzah share their thoughts and feelings related to ‘Th…

Fikri and Ezzah return in the 75th episode of Thoughts on Films to talk about the SWANA Film Festival! Focusing on Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) films, it was curated by Christina Hajjar and hosted by the School of Art, University of Manitoba in February 2021. In addition to a poetry reading by Hala Alyan, Fikri and Ezzah take in two fi…

The 74th episode of Thoughts on Films is a discussion between Fikri and Hafiz about 'Kickflip'! Directed by Khairil M. Bahar, it tells the story of Johan, a man facing a mid-life crisis of sorts who finds solace by turning back to one of his earlier passions, skateboarding. Released in December 2020, Fikri and Hafiz talk about the film's technical …

Happy Lunar New Year to all! Fikri and Ezzah kick off the new cycle with a discussion of ‘Burung-Burung’ by Anwar Johari Ho. Having officially premiered at the 15th Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival in November 2020, they connect the film with Anwar’s previous efforts, like ‘Forget Me Not’ and ‘Unforgettable’ (which he produced). In addition to an a…

This episode of the podcast is a special interview with Malaysian filmmaker Kan Varren. The director of 'Garang', released in 2019 and billed as Malaysia's first action film to feature difabled characters in lead roles, sits down to discuss the origins of his career and how it led him to the making of his feature film debut. He also opens up on the…

Initially published by our sister publication CQ Magazine, this episode is a recording of a talk delivered by Riri Riza. An accomplished Indonesian filmmaker, having made numerous critical and popular successes such as 'Laskar Pelangi', 'Sokola Rimba' and 'Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? 2', he discusses the importance of cinematography and lighting. The tal…

Not long after the last one, Fikri and Ezzah are back for the 70th episode of Thoughts on Films. They dig deep into a long-planned but never-executed episode focusing on selected films from the Fat Bidin COVID-19 Mini Docs film competition! An event that ran in the middle of the year, a top-three was chosen from a shortlist of over 20. Fikri took a…

Fikri and Ezzah get together to sembang some news of Malaysian cinema in the past weeks and months. At the forefront is a discussion about Emir Ezwan’s ‘Roh’ being selected as the nation’s submission for the Academy Awards in 2021. This is followed by a chat about ‘Puteri Gunung Ledang’ being on Netflix, powered largely by Ezzah’s enthusiasm. Final…

After an unplanned hiatus, Fikri returns with a special episode in the bag! He interviews Cheng Thim Kian, a Malaysian filmmaker with not one, but two films released in 2020. In the first part, they discuss 'BEE, My Friend', looking at its theme of education and charting the journey from being a video made for a school to one that is selected for i…

Returning from a short hiatus, Fikri and Muz return with an episode looking at Emir Ezwan’s film, ‘Roh’. They consider the film’s technical and thematic merits, discussing ‘Roh’ in the context of Malaysian horror. Along the way, Muz relates it to other films from Iran and the United States, while Fikri links it to happenings back home in Malaysia. …

The 66th episode features Fikri and Muz for another chat on Malaysian cinema, beginning with commiserations on the passing of animator Rosdi bin Othman, a key part of the film ‘Legend of Ancient Borneo’. They briefly touch on updates on the new CEO of FINAS, and the official standard operating procedure for film production in Malaysia, before delvi…

The 65th episode brings with a smorgasbord of films news to discuss! Fikri and Muz sit down to talk about the appointment of Zakaria Abdul Hamid as the chairman of the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS). They also consider the other board members appointed to their roles, before considering the reasons and implications of the la…

Selamat Hari Raya to all! Recorded at the end of Ramadhan, this episode is a special interview with Anwar Johari Ho, the director of ‘Forget Me Not’. Fikri sits down with him (online, natch) to discuss his career thus far, and how his education journey has helped (or not) with his film one. In the second half, they delve deeper into Anwar’s film, d…

Ladies and gentlemen, introducing: Hafiz Rahman! This episode sees Hafiz, a keen film fan, sit down with Fikri for a stroll down the killer memory lane that is Memories of Murder. Directed by Bong Joon-ho (probably the one filmmaker with the dreamiest of 12 months to look back on), the film tells the story of South Korea’s first serial murders in h…

For once, an episode hitting more sombre notes. Fikri and Muz sit down to discuss the recent passing of three personalities in world cinema: Irrfan Khan, Rishi Kapoor and Kamal Ishak. Part one sees the discussion of Irrfan Khan’s impact, particularly through the films the boys were first introduced to him. The second half focuses more on ‘Bobby’s R…

Happy Star Wars Day! For this episode, Ezzah reminisce over her trip to Tunisia a number of years ago, during which time she managed to snag a visit to the original Star Wars set. She dove deep into her thoughts and feelings at the time, including the journey of getting there and how the experience and emotions affected her. In the second half, Fik…

For the 60th episode, Fikri and Ezzah celebrate the festival of creativity that is the #KumanPicturesChallenge by looking at a select number of films. Organised by Kuman Pictures, it is a competition designed to encourage filmmaking under lockdown conditions, with the winners walking away with RM1,000. Given that there are over 200(!) films, we hav…

Disney+ is in town, and so are Fikri and Muz! In this episode, the guys sit down to chat about its position in the streaming landscape. Reflecting on their experience of streaming the House of Mouse, they talk about the upsides (e.g. the surprisingly low cost), as well some of the surprising downsides. In the second half, Fikri talks to Ezzah about…

58 up! For this episode, Fikri and Ezzah sit down to have a chat about microdocumentaries. Inspired by Ezzah’s current professional obligations, the discussion includes videos produced by the likes of Vice, Vox, and anything else that begins with the letter V. Along the way, they consider the good, the bad, and the information colonisation of the g…

The 57th episode of Thoughts on Films sees Fikri and Ezzah get together to reflect on some contributions from their friends. This includes the two Muzzes, one (Muzzafar) sharing his thoughts on being inside the world’s largest COVID-19 lockdown, while the other (Muzzamer) expresses his thoughts and feelings on the postponement of his film, ‘Takut K…

Though the world now has much bigger things to think about, the team gets together to discuss their feelings on the situation, shedding light on life under different types of lockdown in Malaysia and England. Coming back into the mix to do exactly that is Ezzah Mahmud, as she and Fikri consider the impact of COVID-19 on Malaysian cinema. This inclu…

The Winding Road is a panel discussion at the 2019 Young Filmmakers and Digital Content Forum. Though the path to making your debut feature film is filled with many challenges, many still see it as the top of the mountain, a peak to aim for in one’s career. With that in mind, this episode features an in-depth discussion with Ineza Roussille (direct…