Sunday, December 17, 2006

Jakarta fest wraps debut local film competition

The drama "Denias Senandung Di Atas Awan" helmed by John De Rantau won the first competition for Indonesian movies at the Jakarta Film Festival (Jiffest,) which wrapped its eighth frame Sunday.

Pic, about a boy who is turned down by school because he is too poor, was named best Indonesian film, while best local helmer award went to Rudy Soedjarwo for his "9 Naga," about child assassins. Country's best known art-house helmer Garin Nugruho was given a special mention for his "Opera Jawa," which preemed in Venice.

Jury said it was pleased with the overall tech quality of what it had to see, but gently rebuked the film-makers for being too talky. At least they made it to the screen.

Jiffest again struggled with censorship problems. Dutch docu "Promised Paradise" was prevented from screening by the Indonesian censor as it includes images of one of the Bali bombers. Nor did the censor relent on three movies which it banned last year on the grounds that they may disturb the peace in Aceh province and which festival programming chief Orlow Seunke tried to present again this time.

Seunke, a Dutch-national who has selected the line-up for the last three years, will now quit the fest. He said event has almost no financial support from government or local industry.

Having previously helmed 1982 Venice Golden Lion winner "The Taste Of Water," he is expected now to return to film-making.