The inauguration of the first edition of the Latin American Film Festival in Kuching, the capital city of the Malaysian state of Sarawak, took place this weekend.
The opening remarks of the event were made by the Cuban ambassador to Malaysia, Florentino Batista González, who expressed the satisfaction of the members of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Embassies in Malaysia (GRULAC) for this milestone.
After 22 editions of the Festival held in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, and after the fourth installment of the cultural event on the island of Penang, the Cuban ambassador referred to the excitement that comes from approaching the Malaysian states located on the island of Borneo, through cinema.
The opening was attended as a guest of honour by the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts of Sarawak, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who also offered his impressions and said he is sure that this film festival will be a first step to promote exchanges between Latin American countries and Malaysia, as well as to promote tourism in both directions.
Among the films presented from November 29 to December 1 in Kuching, the classic Cuban film from 1966, La muerte de un burócrata, stands out, a film that was recently restored and that the Malaysian public has been able to enjoy in the different cities where the festival has taken place.