Download the programme here.
*Admission is free, unless stated otherwise.
Poskod Journalism Campus
Bringing Malaysian Stories to an International Audience – A Video Documentary Masterclass with Al Jazeera
Friday, 20 June 2014
10.30 am – 1.00 pm
Black Box, MAP @ Publika
Video journalism can bring national stories to the attention of the whole world. In this masterclass, international news network Al Jazeera will present two documentaries made by filmmakers based in Malaysia. The filmmakers will lead the audience through the process of making a successful local story with a global reach.
This event is public but you can pre-register here. Once pre-registration is full, remaining seats will be offered on a walk-in basis.
Journalism For Gen Y – A Panel Discussion, sponsored by R.AGE
Friday, 20 June 2014
2.00 pm - 3.30 pm
Black Box, MAP @ Publika
Our consumption of the news is increasingly shaped by social media, as well as websites like Buzzfeed that are driven by ‘virality’. How are Gen Y readers and writing changing journalism? This panel discussion will be hosted by R.AGE, The Star’s youth platform, and will feature editors and journalists who are trying to capture the voice and attention of the millennial generation.
Panelists: Zan Azlee, Lim Chee Wah, Niki Cheong, Loo Jia-Wei
Moderator: Ian Yee
Anatomy of a Documentary From Idea to Screen – A Workshop with Al Jazeera
Friday, 20 June 2014
2.00 pm - 5.00 pm
Interpr8, Publika
Are you a documentary filmmaker with a project that you would like to reach a global audience? Here’s your chance to workshop your current documentary ideas and projects with producers from Al Jazeera’s Witness and Viewfinder series. You will gain feedback on each stage of the process, from pitching to post-production.
This workshop is limited to 20 people and is open by application only. Download an application at www.poskod.my. Deadline for applications is 10 June. The workshop will be charged at RM20.
Risky Business: Investigative Journalism
Saturday, 21 June 2014
2.00 pm - 3.00 pm
Black Box, MAP @ Publika
Journalism that seeks to uncover and report the truth is one of the cornerstones of a free press. How strong is Malaysia’s media record in investigation – and what are the risks of digging deep in this country?
Panelists: Steven Gan, R. Nadeswaran, Chan Tau Chou
Moderator: Ling Low
Bringing Malaysian Stories to an International Audience – A Video Documentary Masterclass with Al Jazeera
Video journalism can bring national stories to the attention of the whole world. In this masterclass, international news network Al Jazeera will present two documentaries made by filmmakers based in Malaysia. The filmmakers will lead the audience through the process of making a successful local story with a global reach.
This event is public but you can pre-register here. Once pre-registration is full, remaining seats will be offered on a walk-in basis.
Journalism For Gen Y – A Panel Discussion, sponsored by R.AGE
Our consumption of the news is increasingly shaped by social media, as well as websites like Buzzfeed that are driven by ‘virality’. How are Gen Y readers and writing changing journalism? This panel discussion will be hosted by R.AGE, The Star’s youth platform, and will feature editors and journalists who are trying to capture the voice and attention of the millennial generation.
Panelists: Zan Azlee, Lim Chee Wah, Niki Cheong, Loo Jia-Wei
Moderator: Ian Yee
Anatomy of a Documentary From Idea to Screen – A Workshop with Al Jazeera
Are you a documentary filmmaker with a project that you would like to reach a global audience? Here’s your chance to workshop your current documentary ideas and projects with producers from Al Jazeera’s Witness and Viewfinder series. You will gain feedback on each stage of the process, from pitching to post-production.
This workshop is limited to 20 people and is open by application only. Download an application at www.poskod.my. Deadline for applications is 10 June. The workshop will be charged at RM20.
Risky Business: Investigative Journalism
Journalism that seeks to uncover and report the truth is one of the cornerstones of a free press. How strong is Malaysia’s media record in investigation – and what are the risks of digging deep in this country?
Panelists: Steven Gan, R. Nadeswaran, Chan Tau Chou
Moderator: Ling Low
The Cooler Lumpur Confabs
A series of panel discussions and conversations on the issues and ideas that shape our society
Autocorrect: Do Algorithms Eliminate the Need for Proper English?
Has technology eliminated the need for the good and proper? This panel explores how algorithms have affected the way we communicate. What does it mean for language if a computer or smartphone can interpret what you’re trying to say and put your point across for you? Does this open the doors of access? Or does it mean that we will forever languish in a world of patois and pidgin?
Panelists: Dr. George Iber, Rebecca Hart, Jason Ng
Moderator: Richard Bradbury
The Modern Malay Tongue
How has Bahasa Malaysia in its written form changed over the years? From the rigid, strict, sanctioned, to the slang filled, rojak-ed hybrid we experience today, this panel will explore the evolution of the Malay language into the 21st century. It will ask whether there is still room for an institutionalised tongue in this modern age or not?
Panelists: A. Samad Said, Uthaya Sankar SB, Nadia Khan
Moderator: Ahmad Fuad Rahmat
We’re All Beige: New Ideas in Cultural Identity
We are cultural consumers. We are exposed to a glut of popular content that isn’t bound by geography, or language, or ideology. We adapt and adopt these ideas freely. So much so that our new cultural identity is something of a mishmash of global proportions. What does this mean for our notions of self? What does it mean for conventional notions of nationality?
Panelists: Miguel Syjuco, Adam Foulds, Eka Kurniawan
Moderator: Marion D’Cruz
Beyond Beta: Mentoring the Next Generation of Ideas
We live in an era of unprecedented openness. In what is the most creative and innovative of times. But how do we tap into this creativity? How do we take these new ideas and best utilise them; for profit, for the betterment of society, for world peace? This panel will delve into the nitty gritty of taking that great idea to the next level. This panel will explore the different environments that are both sufficient and necessary so such ideas can be born.
Panelists: Zaman Ahmad, Hardesh Singh, A. Asohan
Moderator: Ezra Zaid
The Age of Creativity
Do we have enough fresh, new, and unique ideas to continue to push the boundaries of literature and music and film? Is everything derivative? Whatever happened to originality? Is it something altogether unattainable in this day and age? A discussion on what – if anything – is lacking in the world of the arts. A discussion on whether such creative doomsaying is premature.
Panelists: Gary Thomas, Ian Casocot, Zen Cho
Moderator: Lee Chwi Lynn
Fringe Voices
From HINDRAF to PERKASA, from COMANGO to Amnesty International, from ISMA to the KKK, what role do fringe voices play in our society? How important are they in driving discourse? What is their role in literature and the arts? Should they be heard? Should they be silenced?
Panelists : Marco Ferrarese, Nay Phone Latt, Jason Ng
Moderator: Sharaad Kuttan
Lost and Found in Translation
We’re all aware of that old refrain, of how important translation is in broadening our horizons, in opening our minds to other lives and other worlds. But what role does translation play in the face of our new world? As geographical boundaries become more and more translucent. Is translation the key to unity in the multi-racial, multi-religious, multi-coloured, multi-everything societies we live in? Will it help us better understand ourselves and those around us?
Panelists: Dr. Sarah Meisch, Zhang Su Li, Pauline Fan
Moderator: Eddin Khoo
Imagining an Asian Superhero for the 21st Century
A Muslim Ms. Marvel. An Indian Spider-Man. A Chinese Blink. Geek out with us as we explore what it means to be a superhero in the new Asian century.
Panelists: Andrew Drilon, Dr. Gwee Li Sui, Khai Bahar
Moderator: Umapagan Ampikaipakan
The Lost Art of Storytelling
Storytelling is one of the most ancient and powerful ways of communicating and connecting with people. It remains an art. It remains one of the primary ways we receive and process information. Today, we produce more content, we tell more stories, than ever before. But are we any good as storytellers? Have we lost the ability to capture hearts and minds? How good are we at uniting an idea with emotion? What does the age of virality mean for the storyteller?
Panelists: Kamini Ramachandran, Damian Barr, O Thiam Chin
Moderator: Kam Raslan
Amir Muhammad in conversation with Umapagan Ampikaipakan
#FAST Ads
Advertisements are a reflection of our mindsets. This panel will look at how advertising, marketing and media come together to create engaging content in our #Fast-paced lifestyles, and how advertising is a cultural barometer for how we have progressed (or regressed) as a society in the face of social shifts.
Panelists: Ravi Shan, Sathi Anand, TC
Moderator: Harmandar Singh
Rock, Paper, Scissors: Cultural Censorship and the Death of Ideas
What happens in societies in which censorship is a norm? Is creativity stifled or does it still find a way to thrive? What happens to new ideas, to controversial ideas, to dangerous ideas, to necessary ideas, if they aren’t ever allowed to surface – be it in literature, art, music, or film? This panel will address those issues of censorship that go beyond the usual stories of government heavy-handedness and instead discuss how the years of conditioning has affected our cultural landscape.
Panelists: Marc De Faoite, Nguyen Truong Quy, Dain Said
Moderator: Katelijn Verstraete
Nay Phone Latt in conversation with Sharaad Kuttan
Moving #FAST in the Digital Era
Digital distribution. Streaming services. Online stores. Is Malaysia adapting fast enough to the changes in the music industry? Are these platforms the future? Are they worth investing in? What does the future look like for budding musicians? Come join us as we dissect the Malaysian music industry in an attempt at ascertaining whether or not our homegrown labels and musicians are a part of the revolution.
Panelists: Syaheed (aka Mohamed Shahid Isahak), Matt Armitage, Amar Amdan
Moderator: Fikri Fadzil
Eka Kurniawan in conversation with Ahmad Fuad Rahmat
Reimagining Malaysian Cinema
We’re making and releasing more movies than ever before. But are they any good? We’re setting ourselves up to be the Vancouver of South East Asia. But do we have the chops? An open and honest, down and dirty discussion on the future of Malaysian cinema.
Panelists: Hassan Abd Muthalib, Low Ngai Yuen, Tengku Iesta
Moderator: Johanan Sen
Disruptive Economics: Beyond Banks & Billionaires
This session brings forth out-of-the-box ideas about how we look at economics today. Do we need to be selfish to be successful? Is individuality more important than the community? Is poverty the result of individual weakness or a failing system? Is our current, fast-moving global economy truly sustainable?
Speak to 3 earth-shaking economists and contemporary thinker s on how we can look at the world in a different way and survive the 21st century without killing ourselves.
Speakers:
Huzaine Hamid – CEO, Ingenium Services
Giovanni Galluzzo – Murujan Permaculture
Dato’ Abdul Manaf - Former President, Islamic Banks Association Malaysia
Abdel-Jallal Zait – Advocate, Ethical Financing and Muamalat (Session Facilitator)
#Fast Talks
The Cooler Lumpur Lecture Series
Opening Keynote: F*** Censorship! by Miguel Syjuco
This year’s #Fast Talks Lecture series at the Cooler Lumpur Festival will be opened by distinguished Filipino writer Miguel Syjuco who represents the bright future of Asian literary talent. Beginning a series of lectures by distinguished guests, with the ever present and timely topic of censorship and its constraints.
The Kids Are Not Alright by Azmyl Yunor
Consuming popular music has become such an intrinsic part of our modern lives that we’ve assumed it to be a ‘natural’ and ‘unquestionable’ part of our daily routine. It ‘soundtracks’ our daily individual events. But to what extent can popular music and the culture that surrounds its consumption (popular images, fashion style, music videos, icons, etc.) be taken as a ‘cultural barometer’ of sorts which represents the society of its era of existence and the musical era that preceeds and proceeds it? Has angst in rock music been commodified and sucked out of its rebellious spirit into cookie-cutter user-friendly chunks? Is ‘puppy love’ the only topic at the heart of a kick-ass pop song? We’ll explore some questions that begs an answer that we don’t ask enough about popular music.
Causeway Communiques – A Lecture on Contemporary Singaporean-Malaysian Literature by Dr. Gwee Li Sui
There is a divergence in Singaporean-Malaysian Literature. How have we changed over the years? How have our respective nationalities and governments have affected the way we write? Do Singaporean writers seem more comfortable in showing greater freedom and confidence in exploiting the possibilities of their language? Do Malaysian writers in English come across as more cautious in with regards to the issues they tackle and they language they use?
Unrealised
Ideas are risks. In a perfect world, all risks are worth taking and everything works out. We do not live in a perfect world. For Unrealised, we’re talking to 6 speakers from diverse fields whose ideas just didn’t pan out. Curated by Mark Teh, this presentation will cover incomplete projects, utopian blueprints and rejected proposals.
The Cooler Lumpur Classroom
A series of workshops and masterclasses by some of the best and the brightest in their fields.Tickets can be purchased at www.tix.my.
Masak Masak Series with B.I.G. Group – #FAST Food Cooking Challenge
FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVE with B.I.G Group
If you take travel time, queuing time, cashier-guy-screwing-up-your-order time into account, is it really faster than prepping and cooking a fresh meal? Or are we just plain lazy? We’re taking on the Fast Food vs Real Fast Food challenge. In a hands-on cooking demonstration, we’ll show you how to prepare a meal within budget that is tasty, nutritious and above all – Real #Fast.
So, You Wanna Be A Storyteller? by Kamini Ramachandran
FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVE
This workshop reveals the tricks of the trade behind a successful storyteller. Participants are guided by an expert in the field in unlocking their inner storyteller. Once you know your story like the back of your hand, you will be able to communicate confidently and effectively.
A highly participative workshop that involves all participants in storytelling exercises, activities and practice opportunities. Memorization of text is discouraged and internalization of the story is encouraged. Only stories from the oral tradition will be used during this workshop (legends, myths, epics, folktales, fables, fairy tales and traditional oral narrative stories).
Tickets are available here.
Penning Pictures: How to Write the Graphic Novel by Dr. Gwee Li Sui
Are you interested in creating a graphic novel? Or looking to improve on your talents? Join graphic novelist and writer Dr. Gwee Li Sui for this in-depth workshop.
Dr. Gwee is a poet, a graphic novelist, and a literary critic. His first book Myth of the Stone (1993), written and drawn at the age of twenty-one, was Singapore’s first full-length graphic novel in English. Out of print for many years, it has since returned in a special twentieth-anniversary edition published by Epigram Books in 2013. Gwee also wrote a book of funny verse Who Wants to Buy a Book of Poems?, which Landmark Books published in 1998. His new poetry collection One Thousand and One Nights will be released this year.
A familiar name in Singapore’s literary scene, Gwee has written essays on a broad range of cultural subjects and is well-loved for his instruction in Singaporean literature and, in particular, Singaporean poetry. He is the editor of Sharing Borders: Studies in Contemporary Singaporean-Malaysian Literature II (2009), Telltale: Eleven Stories (2010), and Man/Born/Free: Writings on the Human Spirit from Singapore (2011), all published by Ethos Books. This year, FEAR NO POETRY!, a guide to close reading he has written, will see print.
Tickets are available here.
Memoir: Your Life, Your Story by Damian Barr
FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVE
Everybody has a story to tell. However seemingly ordinary or extraordinary your life is – or was. The contemporary memoir is tellingly popular. To make readers care as much about your story as you do, you must have the finesse of fiction.
This intensive two hour workshop with columnist, writer, playwright, and salonnière Damian Barr will encourage you to focus your life story and give it literary credibility by casting yourself as the central character and focusing on the specific emotional challenges of remembering.
Tickets are available here
Approaching TESOL: Teaching English to Your Children by Dr. George Iber
The workshop will present and demonstrate a variety of ways that parents can introduce their children to learning the English language. It will show how the combination of traditional reading strategies combined with widely available internet resources, such as YouTube, can make the experience of learning English fun and effective.
George Iber is a Professor – TESOL Graduate Teacher Education Program, Abraham S. Fischler School of Education, Nova Southeastern University. He earned a Masters of Arts in Teaching English (87) and his Ph.D. (92) in Educational Foundations from the University of Iowa.
Since 1992 he has worked as a full-time faculty member training teachers at the college and university level. He has developed syllabi and degree programs for B.S., M.S. and Ed.S. teacher training programs emphasizing cultural studies and ESOL methodology. He has taught these courses, and others, in Florida, The Bahamas, Jamaica, Belize, The Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, and Mexico, using a blended delivery model consisting of live and online course elements.
Tickets are available here.
Age 18 and above
Storytelling for Parents by British Council
Inventing People – Creating Characters for Fiction by Adam Foulds
Adam Foulds’ most recent books are The Quickening Maze, which was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and won the Encore Award and the European Union Prize for Literature, and The Broken Word, which won the Costa Poetry Award and the Somerset Maugham Award. He has recently been awarded the E. M. Forster Award by the American Academy of Arts and Letters and named as one of Granta’s “Best of Young British Novelists”.
Tickets are available here.
“Inspiration, Influence and Interaction” Writing Workshop by Zen Cho
A workshop themed on “Inspiration, Influence, and Interaction”. Most writing workshops are necessarily interactive, since participants usually have to write short pieces, as well as read and comment on each other’s work. This workshop has those elements, but also has a particular focus on collaboration and engagement, both with communities and literary/artistic/genre traditions. The idea is to help participants identify and draw on their literary (and other artistic) influences, and seek community with other writers and artists.
Tickets are available here.
#FAST Films
Screenings by Filemmakers Anonymous
A series of short films followed by panel discussions will be hosted by Filemmakers Anonymous. Filemmakers Anonymous is a collective. An array of new and emerging films; compiled, not curated, from among like-minded people who are just addicted to making films – for whatever noble or twisted reasons.
#FAST Film: Early Indies 1
A selection of Malaysian shorts from 2000-2005, the pathbreaking years of local independent digital filmmaking. Curated by Imri Nasution.
Join us for a walk down memory lane, through the beginnings of a new century in Malaysia, when a wave of young filmmakers & alternative stories emerged. These films, all made before the age of YouTube, capture how #FAST the urban Malaysian landscape has changed.
Programme:
1. ‘Hometown’ by Tan Chui Mui (2003 / 6 mins).
2. ‘My Father & His Celluloid’ by Daven Raghavan (2001 / 10 mins).
3. ‘Malaikat di Jendela’, by Osman Ali (2004 / 30 mins).
4. ‘Lost’ by Amir Muhammad (2002 / 10 mins).
5. ‘A Story About Seau Ming’ by Tan Kui Lan (2000 / 6 mins).
TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 62 mins.
#FAST Film: Early Indies 2
A selection of Malaysian shorts from 2000-2005, the pathbreaking years of local independent digital filmmaking. Curated by Imri Nasution.
Join us for a walk down memory lane, through the beginnings of a new century in Malaysia, when a wave of young filmmakers & alternative stories emerged. These films, all made before the age of YouTube, capture how #FAST the urban Malaysian landscape has changed.
Programme:
1. ‘Me, My Mother & Mosquito’ by Shan (2001 / 7 mins).
2. ‘Classrooms’ by Ho Yuhang (2003 / 6 mins).
3. ‘Flower’ by Liew Seng Tat (2005 / 19 mins).
4. ‘Ada Bola’ by JImmy Choong (2004 / 8 mins).
5. ‘Majidee’, by Azharr Rudin (2005 / 15 mins).
TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 55 mins.
Malaysian Shorts by Amir Muhammad
Malaysian Shorts is about a dozen new Malaysian short films curated by Amir Muhammad and presented by Kelab Seni Filem Malaysia. After the screening, there will be a Q&A session with some of the directors.
#FAST Film: Early Indies 3
A selection of Malaysian shorts from 2000-2005, the pathbreaking years of local independent digital filmmaking. Curated by Imri Nasution.
Join us for a walk down memory lane, through the beginnings of a new century in Malaysia, when a wave of young filmmakers & alternative stories emerged. These films, all made before the age of YouTube, capture how #FAST the urban Malaysian landscape has changed.
Programme:
1. ‘A Story About Seau Ming’ by Tan Kui Lan (2000 / 6 mins).
2. ‘No Worry Chicken Curry’ by Shan (2000 / 10 mins).
3. ‘My Father & His Celluloid’ by Daven Raghavan (2001 / 10 mins).
4. ‘Lost’ by Amir Muhammad (2002 / 10 mins).
5. ‘Hometown’ by Tan Chui Mui (2003 / 6 mins).
6. ‘King of Fruits’ by Jon Yap (2001 / 5 mins).
7. ‘Malaikat di Jendela’, by Osman Ali (2004 / 30 mins).
TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 77 mins.
#FAST Junior
Storytelling by Shamini Flint
Shamini Flint lives in Singapore with her husband and two children. She began her career in law in Malaysia and also worked at an international law firm in Singapore. She travelled extensively around Asia for her work, before resigning to be a stay-at-home mum, writer, part-time lecturer and environmental activist, all in an effort to make up for her ‘evil’ past as a corporate lawyer! Shamini has sold over 500,000 books since she began writing six years ago.
Shamini writes children’s books with cultural and environmental themes including Jungle Blues and Turtle takes a Trip and the ‘Sasha’ series, which are mainly focused on Asia. She also writes crime fiction, the first three books are Inspector Singh Investigates – A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder, Inspector Singh Investigates: A Bali Conspiracy Most Foul and Inspector Singh Investigates: The Singapore School of Villainy published by international publisher Little Brown translated and distributed across the world. The fourth title in the series published in April 2011 Inspector Singh Investigates: A Deadly Cambodian Crime Spree with more to follow. Shamini’s fifth Inspector Singh novel, A Curious Indian Cadaver, was released in April 2012.
Storytelling by Lydia Teh
Lydia Teh is as Malaysian as nasi lemak, char kuay teow and roti canai. Born and raised in Klang, which is about an hour’s drive from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, she still lives in this royal town which is known for its bah-kut-teh: herbal stewed pork consumed with copious amounts of Chinese tea.
In between cooking, chauffeuring and caring for the children, she managed to complete a writing correspondence course which started her on a journey of writing. She has written for newspapers such as The Star and The New Straits Times, websites such as e-homemakers and Women’s International Net as well as magazines such as Her World and Good Living Magazine.
She has written seven books including the bestselling Honk! If You’re Malaysian which occupied permanent residence status on the best sellers’ lists for almost a year and the latest, a comic titled The Wordy Tales of Eh Poh Nim #1 Big Bertha Meets Eh Poh Nim.
She is also a columnist at theSun newspaper. Family Teh Time with Lydia Teh appears every Tuesday. She now runs an English language centre.
The Teen Graphic Novel Writing Presentation by British Council
We will be presenting the results from the three-day workshop in developing new stories for graphic novels. Expect to see some of the work displayed in written form as well as illustrated. Graphic artist Andrew Drilon will also be giving a sharing session to interested parties on how he got into the drawing and graphic novels.
Illustrations by Boey Chee Ming
Boey Chee Ming is a Malaysian artist. Primarily known only as Boey, he is best recognised by his illustrations on foam coffee cups, his daily webcomic I Am Boey, and theautobiographical graphic novel When I Was A Kid. Boey writes full-time and does freelance design work. He is also a traveling lecturer and has spoken at Ted X Weldquay. Boey currently has a weekly comic published in The Edge (Malaysia) newspaper.
Animal Tales: Storytelling for Little Tykes! By Kamini Ramachandran
Join renowned international storyteller Kamini Ramachandran in this highly participative storytelling session! Spend the morning with this storyteller and you’ll not only get to listen to stories but make your own animal puppets to take home!
Kamini will tell stories for 30-minutes and a simple craft activity will follow. Basic craft materials are provided. Parents are encouraged to assist their children with the craft activity and be responsible for child safety. The craft activity involves the use of scissors.
Suitable for ages 4 – 8 years old.
Toddlers and babies below 4 years of age are not allowed in the session.
The Living City
by #BetterCities
The Living City by #BetterCities
The Living City is an interactive exhibition that explores city-making in a playful and hands-on approach using LEGO as a building medium.
The Living City, named after Archigram’s 1963 exhibition of the city of the future, is devised as an empty landscape on top of which players will contribute to the ever growing fictional living city. Players will be given an opportunity to construct their own piece of the city and decide where it will be placed by removing existing trees on the LEGO landscape. As the game progresses and more creations are placed on The Living City, players will have to negotiate with existing constructions and depleting green space to decide what gets demolished to make room for their construction.
As players contribute to The Living City, they immediately witness the effects of the city-making as they alter the topography of the LEGO landscape, forming an understanding of the city as a living organism. Some of the immediate concepts players will observe is the act of deforestation, negotiation of resources and understanding density in a city. We hope this process will trigger insightful discussions on urban development and highlight the impact urban growth has on memory and environment.
Dan Lain Lain
@The Cooler Lumpur Festival
Readings @ The Cooler Lumpur Festival by Sharon Bakar
Sharon Bakar was born in Leicester, in the UK, and began her teaching career in inner-city schools in Birmingham, where she was also a part-time youth and community worker, working with disadvantaged children. She did Voluntary Service Overseas working in a government girl’s boarding school in a remote part of Plateau State in Nigeria, and moved to Malaysia in 1984. Here she worked in government schools and in teacher-training, and also spent three years as Coordinator for Business Communication for The British Council.
Sharon is now based in Kuala Lumpur and works as a freelance writer and teacher-trainer and runs a training company -Word Works Sdn Bhd.
She organises Readings, a monthly event for local writers, at Seksan Gallery in Bangsar. Readings from Readings: New Malaysian Writing which she co-edited with Bernice Chauly is a collection of short pieces from readers who read at the event.
She has taught her creative writing courses in partnership with the British Council, MPH Bookstores, and also for the International Medical University and IKIM. She now teaches it in partnership with Learning Works.
FIXI NOVO Book Launch
The 2 latest books by the publisher of the bestselling anthology series KL NOIR will be launched!
All are welcome to meet and greet the writers — and maybe even moon while imbibing spirits!
Admission is free.
Synopses:
Title: 13 MOONS
Author: Ee Leen Lee
Publisher: Buku Fixi (Fixi Novo)
Pages: 252
Price: RM19.90
ISBN: 9789670374994
13 MOONS will provide you with instant chills.
Office workers discover the gruesome secret behind the
puppets used as workplace décor. A man tries to help the ghost of a murdered child haunting a playground. An abandoned well and a banana tree in a village garden conceal a decades-old crime. A couple struggles to keep their family together when their son becomes a zombie. And a nightclub with a supernatural door policy — depending on when you choose to go.
These stories reveal the darkness that threatens to seep through the veneer of day-to-day life.
Title: SPIRITS ABROAD
Author: Zen Cho
Publisher: Buku Fixi (Fixi Novo)
Pages: 284
Price: RM19.90
ISBN: 9789670374987
“If you live near the jungle, you will realize that what is real and what is not real is not always clear. In the forest there is not a big gap between the two.”
A Datin recalls her romance with an orang bunian. A teenage pontianak struggles to balance homework, bossy aunties, first love, and eating people. An earth spirit gets entangled in protracted negotiations with an annoying landlord, and Chang E spins off into outer space, the ultimate metaphor for the Chinese diaspora.
Straddling the worlds of the mundane and the magical, SPIRITS ABROAD collects 10 science fiction and fantasy stories with a distinctively Malaysian sensibility.
Shamini’s Book Party
Shamini Flint lives in Singapore with her husband and two children. She began her career in law in Malaysia and also worked at an international law firm in Singapore. She travelled extensively around Asia for her work, before resigning to be a stay-at-home mum, writer, part-time lecturer and environmental activist, all in an effort to make up for her ‘evil’ past as a corporate lawyer! Shamini has sold over 500,000 books since she began writing six years ago.
Shamini writes children’s books with cultural and environmental themes including Jungle Blues and Turtle takes a Trip and the ‘Sasha’ series, which are mainly focused on Asia. She also writes crime fiction, the first three books are Inspector Singh Investigates – A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder, Inspector Singh Investigates: A Bali Conspiracy Most Foul and Inspector Singh Investigates: The Singapore School of Villainy published by international publisher Little Brown translated and distributed across the world. The fourth title in the series published in April 2011 Inspector Singh Investigates: A Deadly Cambodian Crime Spree with more to follow. Shamini’s fifth Inspector Singh novel, A Curious Indian Cadaver, was released in April 2012.
Bump in the Night
Once upon a midnight dreary…
Bump in the Night is back to spook and excite audiences at The Cooler Lumpur Festival. Come join us at midnight and be scared silly by a series of horror stories performed by some of the best voices Malaysia has to offer.
Note: Persons under 18 are not recommended to attend.
Storyteller: Kamini Ramachandran, Susan Lankester, Patrick Teoh
MOCAFest Translations 3.0
MOCAfest Translations Series is a look at some of the classical works of Muslim scholars in the medieval period, and its significance for the modern day world. Experience the interplay between literature and the arts, during which a reading of a classical text will be followed by artistic responses of various traditional instruments from the Muslim and non-Muslim World.
Role players:
Text reader and scholar – Syed Muhiyuddin Al-Attas
Spoken Word artist – Jamal Raslan
Gambus player – Raja Zulkarnain
Guitar player – Az Samad
Koto player – Hisako Sube
Readings by UnRepresented KL
UnRepresented is a mix of small group workshops (from writing exercises to group walkabouts) and talks by guest presenters who helped participants explore KL through their lenses. These talks spanned different disciplines such as documentary, photography and anthropology.
At the end of the programme, participants produced a piece of fiction or creative non-fiction piece on their chosen topic.
WYN’s Networking Evening – Exploring the Global Village
An innovative networking session that introduces networking games to look at alternative, effective ways of communicating physically. Explore the power of face-to-face networking to create a truly global network.