While the nation looks towards Malaysia Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival, there are a host of other noteworthy events that make September a special month. If you’re outside of Kuala Lumpur and looking for some things to do then here are some highlights beyond the capital.
In Sabah, the anticipated week-long Kota Kinabalu Film Festival takes place where participants can join a film competition and watch original films made by local production houses, while Run For Peace 2019 flags off the first week of the month in Selangor. Here, youths will gather to run for peace! Finally, on the hills of Pahang, the Genting Durian Festival draws crowds who want to explore this exotic fruit and other delicacies connected to it.
Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival (KKIFF)
Known as the longest running film festival in Sabah, film enthusiasts can find themselves knee deep in everything that has to do with cinema. From international and regional movie screenings to talks, workshops and training for film makers – it’s a film making wonderland.
This year’s KKIFF will see 27 films from 16 different countries being screened at the MBO cinema at Imago Mall, opening its platform once again for aspiring film makers to submit their films and get the opportunity to see their ideas come to life on the big screen.
Film makers who are looking for a little challenge can also join the PESTA10 Filmmakers’ Competition with four distinctive categories namely documentary, narrative (story), indigenous language and Malaysia Day. Participants can also learn more about filmmaking in the talks and courses that are offered.
This year, a Special Series 10 talk will be presented alongside courses such as the Sabah Filmmaking Course and the Sabah Pitching and Training Awards. So if you find yourself tempted to go to this year’s festival and wanting to learn more about film making, come with an open mind and a willingness to try anything!
Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival (KKIFF)
WHERE MBO Imago Mall, Sabah
WHEN 7-15 Sept
TEL 014 3514298
kkiff.com
Run For Peace 2019
Organised by Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM), which focuses on promoting peace in societies through cultural exchange and humanistic education, Run For Peace is a non-competitive biennial event that first started in 2005 in Klang, Selangor. Today, the event has expanded to 28 locations including East Malaysia and pulls over 110,000 participants nationwide.
The aim of the 7km run in Klang Jaya is to spread peace and raise awareness on the importance of nuclear abolition – which dates back to 1957 when Soka Gakkai’s second president Josei Toda made a historical declaration calling for an end to nuclear weapons.
Open to participants of all ages, runners need only pay a registration fee of RM30 to exercise in this peace-promoting event. In return, they will receive a Run For Peace kit that includes a towel and t-shirt alongside a finishing medal upon completing the run.
Run For Peace 2019
WHERE Padang Besar Taman Klang Jaya, Klang, Selangor
WHEN 8 Sept
runforpeace.com.my
Genting Durian Festival
Launched earlier this May, the biggest hilltop durian festival in Malaysia draws to an end this month, so if you’re having those last minute durian cravings, make your way to the hilltop resort now!
Here, you’ll find established brands like Serene Orchard, MJ Goh Tong Trading, Weng Fatt Orchard Trading and Fatimah Product Enterprise offering an array of different durian variants including Musang King, XO, D24 and Red Prawn.
To take it up a notch, the festival also features durian-themed desserts like durian cendol, durian ice cream and coffee so that fans can indulge the pungent fruit in other unique ways. But that’s not all, visitors can expect to find other seasonal tropical fruits such as rambutans a (sweet and juicy fruit with a red hairy outer shell) and mangosteen too.
With attractive room packages that make this festival more accessible to the public, durian enthusiasts can enjoy the King of Fruits in the cooling weather of Genting Highlands located 6,000 feet above sea level – making it an exclusive experience!
Genting Durian Festival
WHERE Genting Grand Outdoor Carpark, Genting Highlands, Pahang
WHEN Until 5 Sept (12pm-10pm)