Indonesian filmmakers rebel against festival, censors

JAKARTA -- More than 100 movie bizzers, including top helmers, thesps, producers, writers and technicians, Wednesday handed back awards as part of a protest aimed at several of the country's movie institutions.

They called for the government to abolish the Indonesian Film Festival (FFI), the Film Censorship Institute, the Consultative Board for National Film Development and Film Law No. 8/1992, which they say no longer conform to the spirit of modern film-making.

They also seek the annulment of the best film award and other 'Citra' prizes given to "Ekskul," a campy comedy drama, at last month's FFI. "Ekskul" was panned by critics, slumped at the box office and, the group allege, infringed other composers' music rights.

Multi-hyphenates Nia Dinata and Mira Lesmana, actor Nicolas Saputra, actress Dian Sastro, helmers Rudi Soerdjarwo and Riri Riza were among members of the Indonesian Film Society, (Masyarakat Film Indonesia), who handed back to the Minister for Culture and Tourism, Jero Wacik 22 Citra awards won at previous IFFs. Next week they plan to return another 13 Citras, bringing the total to 35.

"Ekskul, which won the Citra trophy for best film, (illegally) used the score of a certain film and this constitutes a copyright infringement ... and indicates the poor management of FFI and lack of competence on the part of the festival organizers," Upi Avianto, the director of "Realitas, Cinta dan Rock 'N Roll" (Reality, Love and Rock 'N Roll) said, in a statement from the group.

Although it is country's foreign-language Oscar hopeful, Dinata's "Love for Share" ("Berbagi Suami") was not even nominated for best film Citra at the recently concluded 2006 IFF. Apparently one of the FFI judges took the movie's anti-polygamy message as a personal insult.

Indonesia's other well-known fest, the Jakarta Film Fest (Jiffest), also felt the impact of censorship in December. A Dutch documentary "Promised Paradise," was banned by the censor as it showed images of one of the Bali bombers. Three films that Jiffest tried to present in 2005 were also disqualified.

Jiffest programming chief Orlow Seunke has since resigned, blaming a lack of government support.