63rd Asia Pacific Film Festival and 4th China-Malaysia Film Culture Festival to join forces for joint event in March 2027

KUALA LUMPUR, 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

The 63rd Asia Pacific Film Festival (APFF63) and the 4th China-Malaysia Film Culture Festival (CMFCF) will be held concurrently from 26 to 28 March 2027 in Kuala Lumpur, marking the first time the two established platforms have joined forces as a twin-festival event.

The announcement was made at an official press conference held at TGV Pavilion Bukit Jalil, with the support of Suhan Pansha, Secretary-General of the Federation of Motion Picture Producers in Asia-Pacific (FPA). This event marks the third consecutive edition of the Asia Pacific Film Festival to be held in Malaysia.

Founded in 1954, the APFF has served for decades as a primary platform for showcasing outstanding films from across the Asia-Pacific region, fostering friendship, goodwill, and professional connections among film communities. The 4th CMFCF continues to strengthen the specific cultural and cinematic ties between China and Malaysia, and the twin-festival format is designed to leverage the respective strengths of both events to create greater value for partners and the wider film community.

Aron Koh, Advisor of APFF63 and Chairman of CMFCF, stated that the collaboration is intended to be more than simply two events sharing the same dates. He elaborated that the initiative seeks to contribute to Kuala Lumpur's cultural experience by bringing film and film culture closer to audiences beyond the traditional cinema environment.

The organisers are exploring ways to connect the festivals with the city's creative identity, public spaces, and cultural ecosystem, allowing audiences to engage with not only the films themselves but also the creative processes and communities behind them. This approach reflects a broader vision for the twin festivals as a meeting point of cultures, connecting Malaysia with China and the wider Asia-Pacific region through cinema, creative exchange, and human connection.

Key personnel appointments were announced to bolster the festival’s credibility and reach. Dato’ Kamil Othman, former Chairman of the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS), has been appointed as one of the Jury Members of the 63rd Asia Pacific Film Festival.

Othman described his role as an opportunity not only to discover new films and filmmakers from across the region but also to continue the friendship and goodwill among nations that the festival has fostered over the decades.

Additionally, Malaysian action director and actor Ayez Shaukat will receive the FPA Rising Icon Award (Male), a distinction that recognises emerging talents making their mark in the regional film industry and reflects the APFF's commitment to recognising the next generation of Asian filmmakers and screen talents.

The festival programme will also feature a special movie showcase celebrating renowned Hong Kong film director Clifton Ko Chi-Sum. This showcase is designed to highlight his significant contribution to Hong Kong cinema and the broader heritage of Asian cinema, providing audiences with an opportunity to revisit the work of an established filmmaker whose career has shaped the region's cinematic landscape.

In a move highlighting the evolving relationship between filmmaking and emerging technology, the organisers unveiled the trailer for a project presented as Malaysia's first AI-generated feature film. Its inclusion shows the festival's interest in engaging with the changing landscape of cinema and the new forms of storytelling emerging across the region through new tools and technologies.

Strategic planning for the twin festivals extends beyond the cinema hall, with the organisers envisioning a platform that integrates with various sectors. The strategic direction includes potential collaboration with cultural and diplomatic institutions, public and private-sector partners, creative industries, education and youth organisations, media and new-media platforms, tourism and hospitality stakeholders, and film-industry organisations.

These collaborations are intended to create wider opportunities for film appreciation, professional networking, cultural exchange, and public participation, positioning the event as a comprehensive cultural hub rather than a standalone screening series.

The timing of the event coincides with Malaysia’s preparation to mark 70 years of Merdeka in 2027. The organisers see the twin festivals as an opportunity to further position Kuala Lumpur as a meeting point for cultural exchange, connecting cinema with the city's wider creative and cultural landscape.

By aligning the festivals with this national milestone, the initiative aims to leverage the heightened cultural visibility of the year to deepen international engagement and domestic participation in the film industry.

Suhan Pansha, Secretary-General of the FPA, expressed his support for the upcoming festival and welcomed its continued presence in Malaysia. The concurrent holding of APFF63 and the 4th CMFCF represents a significant consolidation of regional film diplomacy, utilising the established history of the APFF and the bilateral focus of the CMFCF to create a unified platform.

The event is set to run from 26 to 28 March 2027, serving as a focal point for the Asia-Pacific film community and a showcase for Malaysia’s evolving role in the regional cultural economy.

Related: TGV Pavilion Bukit Jalil · Aron Koh · Kuala Lumpur