KLEFF 2024 IS BACK AS BOTH PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL FILM FESTIVAL!!

The International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Fest (KLEFF) is Malaysia’s homegrown environmental film festival for the past 15 years. Conceptualised and organised by a not-for-profit environmental organisation, EcoKnights, the Festival is a platform to facilitate the building of a nation of ESG-conscious individuals through film screenings, on-ground activities and partnerships focused on critical sustainability topics.

KLEFF is back as both physical and digital film festival in October 2024, marking its 16th year in mobilizing its role as a media platform for filmmaking, storytelling and knowledge-sharing in the global transformational journey towards sustainability.

Inspired by the 2024 World Water Day theme, KLEFF breathes new life into its mission. This year’s concept revolves around the idea of emphasizing the importance of responsible water stewardship and sustainability. Water serves as one of the elements that forms a nexus at the heart of sustainable development. Apart from Water - Food - Energy, we believe that every individual’s actions matter, and collectively, we can create positive change.

------------------ANNOUNCEMENT TO KLEFF FILMMAKERS OF 2023!---------------------
As a token of appreciation to the filmmakers who supported the festival through film submission last year (2023), we would like to provide you a submission fee waiver. Please email nabila@ecoknights.org.my to claim for your waiver.

Awards & Prizes

Main Awards
• Best Feature Film Award
• Best Short Documentary Award
• Best Short Film Award
• Best Animation Award
• Best Public Service Announcement (PSA) Award

Special Awards
• Special Water Sustainability Film Award (open to films that relate to the festival theme: ‘Water: Sustainably Yours)
• Best ASEAN Story Award (open to films related to ASEAN countries, not limited to the festival’s theme: ‘Water: Sustainably Yours )
• Special Jury Award (not limited to the festival’s theme: ‘Water: Sustainably Yours)
• KLEFF Merit Award (open to Malaysian filmmakers)

Rules & Terms

CLAUSE 1: THEMATIC
- Relevant to the KLEFF’s theme - ‘Water: Sustainably Yours’
- We also accept films relevant to the three pillars of sustainability - environment, society & economy

- Subtopics: Sustainability mindset & behaviour, climate change, science, technology and innovation, waste and resource management, sustainability, alternative energies, green architecture, green finance, agriculture, food security, wildlife conservation, forestry, indigenous or local community and issues, youth in environmentalism, resilience.

*Films should cover the elements of having sustainability mindset, behaviour or culture, but can certainly overlap with social, economic, spiritual, or other themes. We do not limit the films chosen to ones that, to us, have the right answers. It is more important that the films are thought-provoking.
*This is an open forum designed to inspire awareness and action on a myriad of worldwide environmental topics.
*The quality of the film production will also be considered and weighed.
*We also welcome family-friendly films that can also be great to educate children about sustainability.

CLAUSE 2: COMPETITIONS
At present, the festival’s official competition involves FIVE (5) sections:

• FEATURE or FULL-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY:
- Non-fictional motion picture intended to document and reflect reality
- Film run-time: 40 -60 minutes

• SHORT DOCUMENTARY:
- Non-fictional motion picture intended to document and reflect reality
- Film run-time: 5 - 39 minutes

• SHORT FILM:
- Original motion picture of any genre: drama, action, comedy, thriller, etc.
- Film run-time: 5 - 39 minutes

• ANIMATION:
- Includes: traditional animation, 2D animation, 3D animation, motion graphics, and stop motion
- Film run-time: 3 - 39 minutes

• PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS (PSAs):
- A commercial/advertisement that is able to disseminate information quickly, clearly and efficiently
- Film run-time: 1 - 4 minutes

CLAUSE 4:- RIGHTS
By submitting films to KLEFF, candidates thereby grant KLEFF to obtain full access permission to the film and make sure the film does not contravene the rights, including copyright of any third party.

CLAUSE 5:- PROMO USE
Filmmakers who submitted films grant KLEFF the right to use up to 30 seconds of the film for media promotion purposes.

CLAUSE 6:- SUBTITLES
All films submitted MUST have English subtitles. It is optional to have Malay subtitles.

CLAUSE 7:- UNFINISHED FILMS
Please contact us before the deadline to request permission to submit an incomplete film, or have an extension granted. We will need to see a rough cut of whatever you have ready before our submission deadline closes. If your film is accepted, we will need the final version by 30th June. Please make sure you contact us before the entry deadline to discuss this with us.
28 Reviews
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  • Vincent Zheng

    thank you very much for taking our short film “a poet on the cruise” to Kuala Lumpur！

    February 2024
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  • SOMNATH MONDAL

    It's a great Festival. Festival committees are always communicable.

    February 2024
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  • Caravan Fantasia

    This festival offered not only an official selection but also very good networking, for example the films were represented in the Malaysian pavilion at the Expo in Dubai and at the IGEM. Thank you for this and chosing our documentary tripleF*** to be part of it!

    June 2022
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  • Elliott LOUCIF

    Thank you for selecting our film to be part of your festival.

    November 2021
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  • Anna Girbau

    Very good festival with fantastic films

    November 2021
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