Nasi Bungkus Cinema

Taking its name from the packages of rice people in Malaysia often eat for their lunch, Nasi Bungkus Cinema (or “packed lunch cinema”) began as a series of lunch time screenings showcasing the work of Arts and Social Sciences students. Since 2005 the school has supported and encouraged filmmaking activity in the form of Filmmaking for Dungus (“Filmmaking for Idiots”) workshops, and since then a number of short films have been produced.

Since its inception there have been regular screenings throughout the year, with student films taking on a range of topics, including subject matter closely related to units taught within the school: nationhood, gender stereotypes and freedom of speech, to name a few. Students have also worked within various genres, such as documentary, music video and drama. Some of the films and students have gone on to achieve great success, such as Fikri Jermadi who won the Best Short Film award at the 2009 Malaysian Film Festival, Weiyan Low, whose short film The Color of Ideas, which he made while at Monash, was screened at the Bangkok International Film Festival, and Bradley Liew whose work has been shown at the Kuala Lumpur International Short Film Festival.

In recent years Nasi Bungkus cinema has expanded to include films made by local independent filmmakers. On the one-year anniversary of the death of Yasmin Ahmad there was a day-long event to celebrate her life and work at which three of her films were shown. In addition, a number of filmmakers have come to the campus to screen and discuss their work, such as members of the “Malaysian New Wave”, including Amir Muhamad, Woo Ming Jin and Liew Seng Tat.

Nasi Bungkus Cinema’s public profile has grown, not only on campus, but also beyond it, with events being discussed in online magazines and in Kuala Lumpur’s Time Out. As a space for independent local cinema, made by students and professional filmmakers, Nasi Bungkus Cinema enhances and complements the school’s curriculum. By offering a space for reflection upon issues relating to contemporary Malaysia, it makes a contribution to the nation’s cultural life.

For more information and details about upcoming events please visit our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/nasibungkuscinema 

Nasi Bungkus Cinema is currently being run by Dr. Jonathan Driskell (jonathan.driskell@monash.edu)