Second Edition Of Raintown Film Festival Highlights Taiping’s Cultural Heritage

IPOH, July 31 (Bernama) -- The second edition of the Raintown Film Festival will present four feature films shot in Taiping, each highlighting the beauty of the town’s landscapes, history and cultural narratives.

Festival founder Jacky Yeap said the deeper vision behind the event is that Taiping has much more to offer, including folklore, history, as well as arts and cultural events.

“With the efforts of the local community and support of the government, clearly Taiping is not just a tourism destination, but also a town rich with humanitarian values and cultural heritage,” he said in a statement today.

Among the feature films that will be shown are The Gathering, produced by Jin Ong and starring Jack Tan, which captures the beauty of Taiping town; The Game, directed by Felix Tan and filmed entirely in Bukit Larut; and the classic movie Rock, directed by the late Mamat Khalid that will be screened as a tribute on its 20th anniversary.

The Raintown Film Festival will be held from Sept 12 to 14 at Paragon Cinema, Taiping Mall, and entry is free for the public.

According to the statement, the second edition is the result of the strategic collaboration between the public and private sectors. The West Coast Expressway (WCE) is the main strategic partner, reinforcing shared values in connecting cultures and conveying regional narratives.

WCE chief executive officer Lyndon Alfred Felix said Taiping is a town rich with stories, culture and spirit of creativity.

“Supporting the Raintown Film Festival is one way we celebrate the heritage of the communities along our expressway.

“On the West Coast Expressway, our role is not just about building roads, it’s about strengthening ties and preserving the identity of the places we serve,” he said.

The festival will also present 10 of the best short films selected from 103 entries for the 2025 Raintown Short Film Competition. Themed ‘Rain’, these films encompass various genres, such as experimental, artificial intelligence (AI), as well as featuring a new wave of local film-making talent.

Seven awards will be presented during the festival’s closing ceremony, including Best Short Film, the Jury’s Award, Best Director, Best Script and Best Cinematography.

-- BERNAMA