Jakarta film fest chooses "Forever"

HONG KONG -- The ninth running of the Jakarta Int'l Film Festival (Jiffest) (7-16 Dec) wrapped Sunday with "3 Days to Forever" named as the best Indonesian pic.

Pic, helmed by Riri Riza collected a $5,000 prize, as did Deddy Mizwar, named as best Indonesian helmer, for his pic "Nagabonar (Becomes) 2."

A separate jury awarded the human rights award to "Playing Between Elephants," helmed by Aryo Danusiri.

Richest prizes on offer were the Euros 5,000 for feature movie projects in the third running of the Jiffest Script Development Competition. Each receiving the coin from the Hubert Bals Foundation were "Opa's Letter" (Surat Opa) by Dina Jasanti and "A Beautiful Thing" (Yang Terindah) by Andibachtiar Yusuf.

Fest, which has struggled for survival against the indifference of local authorities, said that it had received a promise of support from Fauzi Bowo, the newly appointed Governor of Jakarta, Fauzi Bowo, throughout the length of his term in office.

In total event included screening of 180 films from 33 countries at a range of locations around the city. Organizers said that although budget was cut by 30% to IDR3.8 billion ($410,000), spectator numbers dropped by only 15% to 54,000.

Top ticket sellers included Indonesian closing film "Chants of Lotus" and controversial opener "Persepolis," "Into the Wild," docu "The US vs John Lennon," Coen brothers’ "No Country For Old Men," and local pic "The Photograph."

9th Jakarta Int'l Film Fest Prize Winners

Best Indonesian film
"3 Days to Forever" (3 Hari Untuk Selamanya) Riri Riza.

Best Indonesian director
Deddy Mizwar "Nagabonar (Becomes) 2" (Nagabonar (Jadi) 2).

Movies that Matter Human Rights Award for Best Human Rights
"Playing Between Elephants" Aryo Danusiri

Script Development Competition
Documentary Category
"Life and Death of Dogel Cinema" (Layar Tancep Dogel) Endah WS
"Justice for all" (Nur Idham Bin) Masrur Jamaludin

Short Fiction Script Category
"Traffic Jam" Tam Notosusanto
"The Visit" (Yang Kembali) Erwin Indrawan

Feature Script Category
"Opa’s Letter" (Surat Opa) Dinna Jasanti
"A Beautiful Thing" (Yang Terindah) by Andibachtiar Yusuf

Indonesian filmmakers stage demonstration

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Written by Patrick Frater
Tuesday, 11 December 2007
Story Categories: censorship, Film, Indonesia, People, regulation,

HONG KONG – Film-makers in Indonesia this week launched two separate protest movements.

Highest profile of these is an action in the country's Constitutional Court against the film censorship system. They claim the system is in breach of two of Indonesia's own human rights laws.

Action is brought by the Indonesian Film Society (Masyarakat Film Indonesia), spearheaded by helmer and producer Nia Dinata, helmer Riri Reza, Lalu Roisamria, actress Shanty and academic Tino Saroenggalo. In total over 200 prominent industryites put their name to a petition in 2006, which led to the current court case.

The IFS is also behind a series of boycotts of the Indonesian Film Festival (FFI), a national awards ceremony. Last year the Citra award for best film was given to "Ekskul," a camp comedy drama that allegedly stole music from the Korean film "Taegukgi" (Variety, Jan 5, 2007.)

According to local reports more than ten film-makers have turned down nominations for this year's FFI arguing that the awards ceremony and fest are not properly run.