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95-year-old Gunungkidul farmer nominated for best actress at ASEAN film festival
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95-year-old Mbah Ponco Sutiyem is nominated for Best Actress at the 2017 ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards (Shutterstock/file)
Z
em>Ziarah (Pilgrimage) by Yogyakartan filmmaker BW Purba Negara has received four nominations at the 2017 ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards (AIFFA), including Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Actress.
The film's nominee for Best Actress belongs to 95-year-old Mbah Ponco Sutiyem. Hailing from Yogyakarta's Gunungkidul regency, Mbah Ponco had never acted before being entrusted with the lead role in the movie. The director reportedly chose her to portray Mbah Sri in Ziarah because he thought she had great acting potential.
According to Antara news agency, the film’s cast were chosen based on authenticity. "The most important factor was not acting experience, but life experience," said co-producer Bagus Suitrawan.
Similar to Mbah Ponco, the actors in Ziarah were those who experienced living during the occupation era. Mbah Ponco, who farmed corn at a field near her house in Ngawen district, portrays Mbah Sri who searchers for the grave of her husband who went missing during the second Dutch military aggression. She only wants one thing: to be buried beside her husband.
Read also: Indonesian film to be featured at Cannes Film Festival
Mbah Ponco's own experience during the occupation era was also reportedly added to the film that will premiere on May 18. She shared how at the time she was pregnant and had to leave her house and constantly moved from one place to the next due to war.
At the three-day AIFFA 2017, which runs until Saturday in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, Mbah Ponco will compete with Cut Mini (Athirah), as well as actresses from other countries such as Vietnam's Ngoc Thanh Tam (The Way Station), Laos' Subenja Pongkorn (Bangkok Nites), and Philippines' Al-Al Delas Allas (Area).
The film itself has already received several awards, including Best Movie at the Salamindanaw Film Festival 2016 and Best Scenario from Tempo Magazine 2016. (kes)
