iflix Rolls Out First Original Doc

ADVERTISEMENT

iflix has premiered its first original documentary, Bangkit: 11 Days That Changed A Nation, chronicling the days leading up to the 2018 general election in Malaysia.

The doc features voting station volunteers, journalists, political analysts, activists, members of the public and political party members, as well as news footage, social media content and personal videos, delivering insight into the historic regime change.

Mark Francis, iflix’s global director of original programming, noted, “Although the mainstay of iflix Originals are our entertainment offerings such as premium drama series and stand-up comedy, when we witnessed the real-life drama of the Malaysian general elections unfold before us, we felt compelled to tell its story. After all, GE14 was a rare instance of the truth being more remarkable than fiction. As a local video entertainment platform headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, we felt we simply had to bring a story of this national importance to our Malaysian viewers, and to do so in a way that perhaps traditional news broadcasters would not.”

He added, “Bangkit: 11 Days That Changed A Nation puts the events surrounding the election and its results in a unique light, because it shuns political discourse, and rather, chronicles the story of individuals who bore witness to or had some role to play in the days leading up to May 9th. In fact, the film plays out more like a thriller than a current-affairs special and because we humanize the story, it packs a real emotional punch as well.”