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Government to reassess working permit, customs policies to bring in foreign filmmakers
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Indonesia's working permit, tax and customs policies have stopped foreign filmmakers from choosing the country as a shooting location. (Shutterstock/File)
I
ndonesia is not a popular country among foreign filmmakers for shooting films because of its policies, Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) head Thomas Trikasih Lembong has said.
Thomas mentioned three issues that discouraged foreign filmmakers from choosing to shoot films in Indonesia, namely the country’s working permit, tax and customs policies.
"Indonesia is an ideal location for filming, as there are many beautiful [places] and unique architecture. Unfortunately, the system does not support it,” Thomas said at the Akatara Indonesian Film Financing Forum event in West Jakarta, last week.
Thomas said the working permit process took too long for foreign crews that only wanted to stay in the country temporarily and that equipment was often stuck in customs.
Read also: Creative Economy Agency to make films set at the 10 Priority Destinations
To encourage filmmakers to set up production in Indonesia, the BKPM began to work with the Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf) to reassess the policies.
Bekraf head Triawan Munaf told The Jakarta Post that the Akatara Indonesian Film Financing Forum was part of a greater effort to improve current policies.
“There is no support system in [remote places]. However, we have started to encourage provincial administrations to [work on it],” said Triawan, adding that Bekraf had brought representatives from five provincial administrations overseas to “sell” their provinces as places to carry out film projects.
Triawan also said the agency had worked closely with governors and mayors, encouraging them to evaluate their provincial taxes. “It cannot be done overnight." (asw)
