Amir Muhammad (director)
Encyclopedia
Amir Muhammad is a writer and independent filmmaker based in Kuala Lumpur
, Malaysia. He was born on December 5, 1972 in Kuala Lumpur
and was educated at the University of East Anglia
. He has been writing for Malaysian print media since the age of 14, notably the New Straits Times
.
In 2000, he wrote and directed Malaysia's first DV feature. Some of his works have also been featured in a number of international film festivals including the Sundance Film Festival
and the Berlin International Film Festival
. Two of his films, Apa Khabar Orang Kampung
and The Last Communist
have been banned in Malaysia. A full retrospective of his work was screened at the 2008 Pesaro Film Festival, Italy. He is a partner at Da Huang Pictures
.
He started publishing non-fiction books in 2007 under his company Matahari Books
and is taking a break from film-making.
Short Films:
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, Malaysia. He was born on December 5, 1972 in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
and was educated at the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
. He has been writing for Malaysian print media since the age of 14, notably the New Straits Times
New Straits Times
The New Straits Times is an English-language newspaper published in Malaysia. It is Malaysia's oldest newspaper still in print , having been founded as The Straits Times in 1845, and was reestablished as the "New Straits Times" in 1965. The paper served as Malaysia's only broadsheet format English...
.
In 2000, he wrote and directed Malaysia's first DV feature. Some of his works have also been featured in a number of international film festivals including the Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
and the Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
. Two of his films, Apa Khabar Orang Kampung
Apa Khabar Orang Kampung
Apa Khabar Orang Kampung is a 2007 Malaysian documentary by Amir Muhammad. It was produced by Da Huang Pictures. Like its predecessor The Last Communist, it was banned in its home country but screened in several international film festivals...
and The Last Communist
The Last Communist
The Last Communist is a 2006 Malaysian film described by director Amir Muhammad as a "semi-musical documentary". It is inspired by the leader of the disbanded Malayan Communist Party, Chin Peng and the Malayan Emergency during which more than 10,000 Malayan and British troops and civilians lost...
have been banned in Malaysia. A full retrospective of his work was screened at the 2008 Pesaro Film Festival, Italy. He is a partner at Da Huang Pictures
Da Huang Pictures
Da Huang Pictures is a Malaysian film production company. It was established in 2004 and its members are Tan Chui Mui, James Lee, Liew Seng Tat and Amir Muhammad...
.
He started publishing non-fiction books in 2007 under his company Matahari Books
Matahari Books
Matahari Books is a Malaysian publishing company founded in 2007 by Amir Muhammad. It specializes in Malaysian non-fiction and also screenplay books...
and is taking a break from film-making.
Filmography
Films:- Lips to Lips (2000)
- The Big Durian (film)The Big Durian (film)The Big Durian is a 2003 Malaysian film by Amir Muhammad that combined documentary with fiction. It created history by being the first Malaysian film to screen at the Sundance Film Festival.- Synopsis :...
(2003) - Special citation, Dragons and Tigers Award in 2004 Vancouver International Film FestivalVancouver International Film FestivalThe Vancouver International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for two weeks in late September and early October...
; Special mention, New Asian Currents in 2003 Yamagata International Documentary Film FestivalYamagata International Documentary Film FestivalThe Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival is a documentary film festival held biennially in Yamagata, Japan.It was first held in October 1989, which makes it one of the longest running documentary film festivals in the world and the most distinguished such festival in Asia... - The Year of Living Vicariously (2005)
- Tokyo Magic Hour (2005)
- The Last CommunistThe Last CommunistThe Last Communist is a 2006 Malaysian film described by director Amir Muhammad as a "semi-musical documentary". It is inspired by the leader of the disbanded Malayan Communist Party, Chin Peng and the Malayan Emergency during which more than 10,000 Malayan and British troops and civilians lost...
(Lelaki komunis terakhir) (2006) - Apa Khabar Orang KampungApa Khabar Orang KampungApa Khabar Orang Kampung is a 2007 Malaysian documentary by Amir Muhammad. It was produced by Da Huang Pictures. Like its predecessor The Last Communist, it was banned in its home country but screened in several international film festivals...
(Village People Radio Show) (2007) - SusukSusuk (film)Susuk is a 2008 Malaysian horror film which was released on August 7, 2008 in Malaysia. The film is directed by Amir Muhammad and Naeim Ghalili. The story concerns about Soraya, who uses the forbidden practice of susuk in order to be famous. This film is rated PG13 for disturbing...
(2008) - Malaysian GodsMalaysian GodsMalaysian Gods is a 2009 Malaysian documentary film by Amir Muhammad and produced by Da Huang Pictures. Although not fully banned , the Malaysian Film Censorship Board disallowed it from screening in cinemas and on TV...
(2009)
Short Films:
- 6horts #1: Lost (2002) - Won, Critics prize for Best Asian Digital Film in 2002 Singapore International Film FestivalSingapore International Film FestivalThe Singapore International Film Festival was launched in 1987. The festival is an annual film event, held around April/May each year, and screens about 300 films from over 45 countries...
(SIFF) - 6horts #2: Friday (2002)
- 6horts #3: Mona (2002)
- 6horts #4: Checkpoint (2002)
- 6horts #5: Kamunting (2002) - Won, Silver Screen Award for Best Asian Digital Short in 2003 SIFF
- 6horts #6: Pangyau (2002)
Books
- Yasmin AhmadYasmin AhmadYasmin Ahmad was a film director, writer and scriptwriter from Malaysia and was also the executive creative director at Leo Burnett Kuala Lumpur. Her television commercials and films are well-known in Malaysia for their humour, heart and love that crosses cross-cultural barriers, in particular her...
's Films (Matahari BooksMatahari BooksMatahari Books is a Malaysian publishing company founded in 2007 by Amir Muhammad. It specializes in Malaysian non-fiction and also screenplay books...
, 2009) - Rojak (ZI Publications, 2010)
- 120 Malay Movies (Matahari BooksMatahari BooksMatahari Books is a Malaysian publishing company founded in 2007 by Amir Muhammad. It specializes in Malaysian non-fiction and also screenplay books...
, 2010) - Malaysian Politicians Say the Darndest ThingsMalaysian Politicians Say the Darndest ThingsMalaysian Politicians Say the Darndest Things is a series of Malaysian non-fiction books compiled by Amir Muhammad and published by Matahari Books...
series (Matahari Books)
External links
- IMDB
- Da Huang Pictures
- Writing by Amir (blog)
- DVDs of Amir Muhammad
- Amazon.com page for Amir Muhammad
- A rebel with a cause (The Sun)(Malaysia)
- Catching up with Amir Muhammad - The Malaysian InsiderThe Malaysian InsiderThe Malaysian Insider is a bilingual news site popular in Malaysia. It has been consistently ranked as one of the top 100 most popular websites in the country with a strong following in Singapore. Alexa ranked The Insider as the 57th most popular website in Malaysia in June 2009...