FILMMAKER Dain Said has zoomed his cameras on the struggles, relationships and emotions of everyday folk in small towns and cities in Bunohan and Interchange.
Now, he has set his focus on Kuala Lumpur life in Cities of Love Malaysia, an international initiative that aims to instil and enhance love for the country’s capital.
Dain has been appointed Kuala Lumpur city manager of Cities of Love Malaysia, which has “KL I Love You” as its theme.
It is part of the Cities of Love franchise, which covers 20 cities, including Paris Je T’aime (Paris I Love You) and New York I Love You.
Cities of Love, which started in 2006, compiles a collection of motion pictures pertaining to every host city, and Kuala Lumpur is the 20th city to be part of the franchise. Other cities include Shanghai, China, Malmo, Sweden, and Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
“This movement cultivates arts practitioners whose love for Kuala Lumpur can transform it into a city of the arts.
“It covers urban space, migration, diversity, history, mythology, youth, lifestyle and business,” Dain told the New Straits Times recently. “Through storytelling in film, music, dance, visual arts and poetry, KL I Love You empowers Kuala Lumpur residents to promote their city globally.”
Dain met the founder of the global initiative, Emmanuel Benbihy, in Taipei, Taiwan, during the screening of Bunohan five years ago.
“He suggested that I helm the Malaysian chapter of this project, and I figured what a great idea it would be to bring
positive change,” he said.
“It is timely that we host KL I Love You as it unites people to build a community that loves its hometown and wants to see it on the map.”
Dain said KL’s involvement was in line with the United Nations’ World Urban Forum, as well as its New Urban Agenda, both of which were supported by Malaysia.
“It will bring international filmmakers to Kuala Lumpur, and they will direct films about aspects of life in the city,” he said, adding that his main duty was to unite creative works and produce a collection of stories about the nation’s capital.
“It will take until later next year to come up with this anthology, involving an average of 10 films by 10 directors. After that, other Malaysian cities may join in the project.”
Dain hopes KL I Love You will enable Malaysian and foreign directors to train filmmakers and discover new actors.
“It’s exciting to work with an international team on home ground.
“Not only will it promote Kuala Lumpur globally, it will also make Malaysian talents famous in the world.”
For more details, visit www.kliloveyou.com.