MVA -10th Malaysian Video Awards

The MVA Council proudly announced that the 10th Malaysian Video Awards Festival has raised its largest prize money so far, a total of RM 230,000 (Ringgit Malaysia two hundred and thirty thousand) of which, 5 grants worth more than RM 45,000 will be awarded to the Experimental Video and short films awards’ winners by FINAS. Two sets of Adobe software, worth RM 1,200 each, will be sponsored by Adobe Systems Pte Ltd. The software is the prize for the Gold winners of Experimental Video: Animation and Experimental Video: Amateur. The Gold winner of the Short Film: Drama/Fiction will be awarded a grant worth of RM 1,500 by Kodak. The Experimental and Short Films awards were presented on Friday, 7:30 p.m 25th November at the National Art Gallery. The festival was kicked off at 4pm with a screening of this year’s notable entries in the awards, followed by the Official Opening Launch of 10th MVA and the Experimental Video & Short Film Awards Ceremony at 7.30pm. This year, 40 judges worked around the clock for the 25 categories and were satisfied with the quality of works submitted for the festival. The council received an overwhelming 400 entries. The Short Films entries gain positive comments from judges claiming that a number of entries this year are beautifully shoot and well written. The festival also aims to promote and encourage young and talented filmmakers and animators. With hopes of unearthing budding talents and providing them with a helping hand to chart out a career path, the experimental category provides a perfect platform for the young to showcase their talents. Click post title to visit MVA's Website.

Santa in Penang Christmas Cards

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Selling Penang with Santa’s help (edited from article in The Star, Metro North, Nov 28, 2005) Santa Claus has been “spotted” around Penang – visiting well-known sites and tourist spots, taking a ride on a ferry and a trishaw, and even pedalling the three-wheeler himself! These scenes of Santa and his reindeer in Penang are the paintings of artist Eric Yeoh, 29, printed on a set of 12 greeting cards for Christmas. “I had a fun time painting the scenes and getting the cards printed,” said Yeoh, an engineer by profession. His personal favourites are the ones depicting Santa cheering a Chingay performance featuring the state and national flags outside the Penang City Hall building, and Santa pedalling a tri-shaw past some pre-war buildings and Komtar in George Town with two reindeer as passengers. Other scenes have Santa and his reindeer riding on trishaws, on a ferry, on a boat past the Penang Bridge, and on the funicular train up Penang Hill with presents in the goods carriage. There are also scenes of Santa waving from a window of a pre-war building, in front of the St George's Church, atop Fort Cornwallis next to the Seri Rambai cannon, and at the door of a gaily decorated Queen Victoria memorial clock tower. Yeoh also painted Santa distributing presents to monkeys at the Penang Botanic Gardens (yes, monkeys get presents too) and sunbathing - minus his red suit – on a deck chair at the Batu Ferringhi beach. On the back of each card is a short description of the place or activity depicted. “Many countries have Christmas cards that are locally themed but universal in appeal, such as those depicting the koala bear in Australia, but there are not many of these types of cards in Malaysia,” said Yeoh. The insides of the cards were left blank and could be printed over for corporate use. A portion from the proceeds of the card sales will go towards the Penang Heritage Trust (PHT), of which Yeoh is a member. The cards are available from the Penang Heritage Trust in Stewart Lane (04-2642631), Disc & Dat Music Centre in Tanjong Tokong (04-8990864), Pintail Cafe & Bistro (04-2642694) in Upper Penang Road. Only RM15 for a set of 12 cards. The cards are available in Kuala Lumpur by emailing your orders to art@ascension.com.my For details, call PenangArt at 012-4653893 or email: penangart@hotmail.com

Andy Lau Vision Tour

Ticket Outlets * Klang Valley * Info Counter Berjaya Times Square Mall * Music Valley Sungei Wang Plaza ** Music Valley Mid-Valley MegaMall * Music Valley Cheras Leisure Mall * Info Counter Lot 10 Shopping Centre ** Fantasy Music Sunway Pyramid * The Actors Studio Bangsar * Axcess Office Jalan Semangat P.J. ** Ipoh * Music Valley Greentown Shopping Mall * Penang * Music Valley Midlands Park * Johor Bahru * Music Valley City Square ** Other Outlets * Star Bookstore Outlets * RedBox Karaoke Outlets * Click here to proceed to Absolute Entertainment's Homepage

6TH European Film Festival

In conjunction with the UK presidency of the European Union, the British High Commission and the British Council are organising the sixth annual European Union Film Festival in Malaysia. The festival will showcase the best of European cinema and will be jointly presented with Golden Screens Cinemas Sdn Bhd (GSC). A total of 25 films from 16 countries will be shown over two weeks. From Oscar winners to award nominees in independent film festivals, from romantic dramas to action thrillers, almost all of the featured films have received multiple internationally recognised awards. Klang Valley Dates: 24 – 30 November 2005 Venue: GSC Mid Valley, Kuala LumpurGSC 1 Utama, Petaling Jaya, Selangor Penang Dates: 2 – 8 December 2005 Venue: GSC Gurney Plaza, Penang The 6TH European Union Film Festival - Film Synopses: http://www.britishcouncil.org/malaysia-arts-events-euff-films.htm

The Original Zouk Abuse Story

As you may have heard, this incident shocked most of us, customers of Zouk and other venues. This is their official story.. http://zoukabuse.blogspot.com/ While we question the victim's movements that lead towards the incident, it is still very wrong and inexcusable for security staff to attack patrons, unless provoked excessively. Their function is simply to protect, ensure security and break apart any violent behaviour amongst intoxicated or aggravated patrons. We will still wonder why Ju-Lee, upon seeing her fiance in that state, didn't simply run out of the toilet first to get emergency help immediately from someone or anyone for that matter. Why when she is so familiar with her fiance's health condition, did she still not take calm measured actions, which should have been routine to her. We're guessing that in her state of panic, the thought never occurred to her. Why did the bouncers fail to identify a sick patron in need of medical help immediately? Why didn't anyone help? Questions plenty, sketchy details everywhere. Different people handle emergencies differently we figure and maybe this whole incident could have been avoided. We found out through one of the managers at Zouk that most of the security staff are new guys and the old ones who we had very high respect for and took the effort to get to know us patrons were no longer there. It is unfortunate that this incident has happened and we wish James and Ju-Lee a speedy recovery and hope Zouk management, after their internal investigation take the neccessary action against those accountable and publicly issues their side of the story for our assurance that this never happens again. party hard party clean party safe

No Black Tie is Back!

No Black Tie We are delighted to announce the opening of the new No Black Tie! Still the Best Live Music in town! Now in a new and improved space! and ... Serving Japanese-Inspired Cuisine from our New Gastro-Bar! starting november 8th ; tuesday, jazz musicians in the house wednesday night blues friday night acoustic fingers saturday night unclogged with alternative musos sunday, Soliano family performing with Remy Soliano on piano, Valentino on bass, Coni on drums, Irene on vocals and Salvador Guerzo on saxophone....and tuesday, november 15th we have more jazz! Michael Veerapen on piano, Lewis Pragasam on drums, Joe on bass, Junji Delfino on vocals and Bruce on trumpet & flugel horn... not to be missed. Venue: 17 Jalan Mesui (just five doors down from the old NBT) Opening Hours: 6pm-2am, Tuesday - Sunday : 03-2142 3737