PARIS: The 2009 French Formula One Grand Prix has been cancelled for financial reasons, organisers said on Wednesday.

“For economic reasons, the FFSA (French Motorsport Federation) has decided to cancel the (2009) French Grand Prix,” said a statement posted on the race’s website (wwww.gpfrancef1.com).

“The FFSA would like to thank all those clients who attended the French Grand Prix and have supported the event in the last few years,” the statement added.

It said all those who had already booked tickets would be reimbursed and apologised to all for the inconvenience caused by the cancellation.

The FFSA had said in an earlier statement that, due to the economic situation, it was no longer prepared to promote financially the race at Magny-Cours.
“As a result, and as long as a promoter capable of succeeding the FFSA has not been identified, the French Grand Prix will not be able to feature on the FIA international calendar in 2009,” it added.

France, the country that invented grand prix racing and whose language permeates the sport from chassis to parc ferme, has only once (in 1955) been absent from the Formula One calendar since the championship started in 1950.

The FFSA has a contract to run the French Grand Prix until 2011 but Ecclestone has long wanted to move it to a track closer to Paris from 2010.

Next year’s race had already been billed as the last at Magny-Cours, a circuit in the depths of rural France that has fallen out of favour with teams and sponsors.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone had wanted to axe it earlier this year but agreed a reprieve and the circuit retained its slot with a June 28 date on an 18-round calendar published last week.

New Straits Times

SINGAPORE: AIA policyholders have largely remained calm after the sudden departure of AIA Singapore’s General Manager.

News broke on Thursday night that Mark O’Dell was leaving for a rival firm, and due to his senior rank, had to take an immediate leave of absence.

Better crowd control measures had seen the disappearance of long, snaking queues, with the staff handing out queue numbers from 7am on Friday morning. By mid-morning, all available slots for the day had run out and policyholders had to return on Monday.

But while the scene at AIA Singapore’s head office in the Central Business District was one of relative quiet, many policyholders were still seeking answers.

One policyholder said, “My own fear is that my brother who needs the money might not get his money. That’s what I’m here for.”

Repeated reassurance by the company and Singapore’s central bank over the past week that AIA will meet its obligations to policyholders seemed to have some effect.

Another customer said, “I have strong belief in MAS to protect our interests as policyholders.”

One agent said several customers had asked to reinstate their policies, which they had surrendered a few days ago.

The firm announced on Thursday that under its “Policy Conversion Programme”, those who surrender their policies between September 15 and 19 may reinstate them without penalty, as long as they make a written request within 14 days of termination.

Although some policyholders say they are cashing out their policies now, they have not ruled out the possibility of investing with the firm in future. Others are keen to keep what they have gotten, but will take out a cash loan on some of their existing policies.

However, the twists and turns of the past week, including the sudden departure of General Manager Mark O’Dell on Thursday night, has left quite a few unsure of their next step.

A customer said, “At first I felt confident, because the US, they pumped in US$85 billion. Then yesterday I saw the news, suddenly come out, the GM quit. That’s why I feel unconfident again!”

Some are seizing opportunities amidst the uncertainty.

A man was seen giving out namecards for a rival insurance firm, even as the Life Insurance Association warned distributors not to target AIA policyholders and advise them to switch policies.

-CNA/yt

Channel News Asia

Wafa (left) is out to make KLIFF 2008 a success.

It may have had its share of critics, but the organiser of the Kuala Lumpur International Film Festival is bent on making this year’s outing a success, writes SHARIFAH ARFAH.

A scene from 1957: Hati Malaya.

THE Kuala Lumpur International Film Festival (KLIFF 2008) will mark its second outing when it is held from Nov 26 to 29.

With barely two months to go, it is, unfortunately, a victim of unsavoury remarks.

Among the comments is one from the former National Film Development Corporation (Finas) director-general Datuk Zain Hamzah, who said that KLIFF did not contribute positively to the local film industry.

Well, last year’s festival was actually not up to mark in terms of organisation and limited free film screenings.
But the new festival director promises a change.

“People are entitled to their opinions. The comments are meant to improve the festival. Being the festival director is never easy, but my team and I do want KLIFF 2008 to be a remarkable event this year,” said KLIFF 2008 festival director Wafa Datuk Abdul Kadir.

Festival organisers have received 82 feature films, 29 short films, 30 documentaries and 50 animations for a total of 191 titles - a marked increase from 122 titles received last year.

“This is a sign of trust that KLIFF is gaining recognition as a world-class festival,” said Wafa, who is helming the festival for the first time.

Another sign of recognition is the inclusion of KLIFF in the Asia-Pacific Screen Awards alongside 200 other film festivals which include the Stockholm Film Festival and the Cairo Film Festival.

“It also helped that various agencies, film associations and also corporate sectors have been more supportive of this event,” she said.

To benefit local filmmakers, a new segment called “business matching” will be introduced this year, where the organiser will fly in distributors and buyers to attend the festival to see their local counterparts and the films on offer.

“This segment, hopefully, will be an eye-opener to foreigners on what the industry has to offer,” Wafa added.

The theme of the festival is “Celebrating Cultural Diversity”.

A total of 16 awards will be presented. There is also the Best Film award for each continent (Asia, Africa, North America and South America) and three jury awards.

In terms of local film participation, there may be as many as 18 titles vying for a slot in the Asian film category, which will be made known later.

Malaysia’s feature film entry last year was director Shuhaimi Baba’s 1957: Hati Malaya, which went on to win the Best Sound award and the Jury Merit Award.

Other Malaysian entries shortlisted were Memoir of a Tragedy (documentary), Hasrat (short film) and Upin & Ipin (animation).

Meanwhile, the opening ceremony will be officiated by Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal at Tun Hussein Onn Hall, Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur at 8.30pm.

Awards for Best Animation, Best Short Film and Best Documentary will be given out that night. The bulk of the awards will be given on Nov 29 at the Merdeka Hall of PWTC.

“We will have a cultural show in line with the festival’s theme,” said Wafa.

Of course, no film festival is complete without the presence of international film celebrities. “No names have been confirmed yet but we are working hard to bring them in,” said Wafa.

Other activities for KLIFF 2008 are free film screenings, film seminars and workshops, and film premieres.

Fifty free screenings will be held at TGV KLCC, Cathay Cineplex Damansara in Petaling Jaya and GSC Mid Valley in Kuala Lumpur. KLIFF 2008 world premiere screenings will take place at GSC Pavillion KL on Nov 27 and 28 from 5pm to 9pm.

As for film workshops and symposiums, among the speakers who will be present are Dr Aruna Vasudev, founder of Osian’s-Cinefan Festival of Asian Cinema (New Delhi) and Founder-Editor of Cinemaya, the Asian Cinema Quarterly; Ashley Ratnavibhushana, director of Asian Film Centre, Sri Lanka; and Jim Pasternak, founder of Screenwriting Expo.

KLIFF 2008 is organised by KLIFF Sdn Bhd, with Finas as co-organiser, and is supported by the Ministry of Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage.

New Straits Times