Latest news with #MABF
Borneo Post
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Film to protect endangered Bornean pygmy elephants
Liew, flanked by Mohd Soffian (right) and Chong, during the courtesy call. KOTA KINABALU (June 22): A feature film to protect and raise awareness about the endangered Bornean pygmy elephants will start filming in Sabah this year. 'Agatis : A Borneo Story' (AABS) has the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (KePKAS) to ensure its success. Its minister, Datuk Seri Christina Liew, said her ministry has every reason to lend a hand, given the film's potential as a wildlife tourism booster. 'We will render the necessary assistance through our agency, Sabah Wildlife Department (JHL). Firstly, it is a feature film to protect and raise awareness about the endangered Bornean pygmy elephants. Secondly, it would be the first ever film in Malaysia filming in close proximity to these majestic animals under supervision,' she said after a presentation on the film project by the director of Mondo Ab Films Sdn Bhd (MABF), Jeanette Chong Tze Ling, recently. MABF is a Kota Kinabalu-based production company in Sabah. Present was the director of JHL, Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar. Agatis (left) and Aki at the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary in Kinabatangan. Chong, a Sabahan scriptwriter, film director and producer, concurred that the ministry's support is the key to success of AABS, a 90-minute movie featuring Agatis, a four-year-old female pygmy elephant and Aki, a two-year-old male pygmy elephant, from the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary (BES) within the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary. 'I thank the minister for her personal assistance. The support from the ministry and Sabah Wildlife Department will bolster the confidence of potential funders and sponsors to come forward to contribute within their capacity. 'This film, my fourth screenplay, is intended not only to be screened in cinemas but also to make its debut at some film festivals,' she said, adding that the move will attract potential local and international filmmakers to produce films in Sabah. Briefing the minister, the lawyer-turned film producer who is also a martial artist, said: 'Agatis : A Borneo Story' is created with the collaboration of more than 50 years of combined experience in storytelling, wildlife cinematography, and high-quality film-making with very experienced and established production teams. 'This is the logline of the film. Both orphaned children – a young lost boy (Dhiren) and a baby pygmy elephant (Agatis) from two different worlds – found each other in the magical Borneo jungle where they bonded and became entangled in a battle to protect Agatis's species from greedy poachers,' explained Chong who has a passion for filmmaking. On her rationale behind 'Agatis : A Borneo Story', the film producer stressed that there is a pressing need to raise the level of awareness of the existence of the Bornean pygmy elephant, and emphasise the importance of coexistence through the film production. 'I met Jibius Dausip (the elephant whisperer) in 2023 to learn more about the Bornean elephant and encountered baby Agatis for the very first time,' Chong recalled. Asked why Sandakan is given the priority for casting (choosing of actors), she attributed this to the location (Kinabatangan), saying it is ideal for the main cast and baby Bornean pygmy elephant to bond before filming starts, together with supervision from BES and their caretakers living in Kinabatangan. 'In July, we are going to do an open casting for the children in Sandakan. We are open to more NGO groups being involved as well as the local people in Kinabatangan.' Once we have successfully secured the funding needed, we hope to commence filming in mid-August or September, Chong added.
ABC News
14-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Melbourne Art Book Fair showcases the indie publishers who are 'having a moment'
In a digital world increasingly dominated by ephemeral media, independent publishing in Australia is experiencing a renaissance marked by creativity, collaboration and diverse narratives. Spurred on by National Reading Survey results, showing 42 per cent of Australians are "occasional" readers and read a book every 15 weeks at most, the Melbourne Art Book Fair (MABF) — part of this year's Design Week 2025 — is out to cultivate a vibrant reading culture. The Stallholder Fair, from May 16–18, showcases more than 100 leading publishers and artists from the Asia-Pacific region, with limited-edition books, prints and magazines. And the flourishing indie publishing scene is right at the forefront. Indie publishing — small scale, often self-directed and with a focus on unique content and alternative voices — is "having a moment", says Dr Megan Patty, publisher at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), and founder and curator of the MABF. That's in part because, in recent years, an influx of independent publishers has filled the gaps left by traditional publishing houses, offering fresh perspectives. These publishers are part of a movement that focuses on collaboration, experimentation and support for emerging artists. They are a catalyst for creative dialogue and community-building. The MABF has grown in response to this style of publishing, highlighting the importance of inclusivity and community-building in the literary world. "Every year has been bigger and better for us," says Perimeter Books co-founder Dan Rule, a proud participant in the fair since its inception in 2014. Established in 2011, Perimeter has published more than 100 works focusing on the interrelation between a book's form and the content it carries. Rule draws inspiration from art critics like late New Yorker critic Peter Schjeldahl, and works closely with artists to translate their ideas into publications. "Being a publisher is inherently collaborative," Rule says; the creative process involves partnering with artists, designers and writers to bring their visions to life. Indie publishers face unique challenges, particularly in funding and business sustainability. Recently, three Australian independent publishing houses — Text, Affirm and Pantera — were acquired by multinational publishing houses. "History shows that mergers often result in the dissolution of the smaller imprint," editor and researcher Alice Grundy wrote in The Conversation. And while acquisitions by mainstream publishers can offer some positives, like increased distribution reach and financial stability, they also raise important concerns; namely, that being acquired could threaten indie publishers' editorial independence, leading to homogenisation and the loss of diverse, innovative voices. Those innovative voices include marginalised perspectives, those experimenting with form, and authors who are emerging. As Rule notes: "Independent publishers can take the kind of risks around the specificities of content, perspective and form that larger publishers simply cannot." Despite the challenges, the industry is far from devoid of good news stories. Perimeter has built a flexible business model rooted in three pillars: publishing, distribution and retail, and Rule says this integrated approach ensures that each aspect supports the others. Uro Publications, co-founded by Mat Ward and Andrew McKenzie nearly 20 years ago, has carved a niche as a leading publisher of architecture and design books. "As a local architecture and design publisher, there needs to be a conversation about how we shape our built environment for the people that live here," Ward says, aligning with the fair's commitment to diverse narratives. Uro's publications often challenge conventional formats, featuring authoritative voices from architectural critics and innovative practitioners, which "foster fruitful discussions, [which] enrich the community, ultimately transforming how architecture is perceived". "I get a kick out of providing a platform for people to share their expertise and ideas," Ward says. Over its 11-year history, the MABF has established itself as a vital platform, not only for showcasing innovative art and design publications, but for enhancing literacy and promoting cultural discourse across Australia. "Every year, the anticipation builds," Dr Patty says. "It's incredible to see how the fair continues to foster connections within the creative community and engage audiences in meaningful ways." Since its inception, more than 200,000 people have attended the MABF. For Dr Patty, every interaction represents an opportunity to ignite a passion for reading, particularly among young children who are more likely to develop lifelong reading habits when exposed to vibrant art books and interactive storytelling experiences. "Find your people, collaborate, and get offline," she says. "Because it's in those real-world connections and conversations that the future of indie publishing truly takes shape." Melbourne Design Week and the Melbourne Art Book Fair run from May 15–25.
