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Latest films from Hanung, Teddy to premiere in Australia
Premiere: A scene from Hanung Bramantyoâs election-year thriller 2014, which will make its bow at the Indonesian Film Festival in Australia before its local release
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Premiere: A scene from Hanung Bramantyoâs election-year thriller 2014, which will make its bow at the Indonesian Film Festival in Australia before its local release. (Courtesy IFF) (Courtesy IFF)
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span class="inline inline-none">Premiere: A scene from Hanung Bramantyo's election-year thriller 2014, which will make its bow at the Indonesian Film Festival in Australia before its local release. (Courtesy IFF)
In just a few weeks, the 9th Indonesian Film Festival in Australia's will get underway with the international premiere of the latest film from one of the Indonesia's most prominent directors.
The festival built on existing relationships to bring the film, Hanung Bramantyo's election thriller 2014, to Australia, festival director Christian Runtuwene said.
What is unique is that 2014 will make its bow at the festival in Melbourne and Sydney before its release in Indonesia, he adds.
He cites another film, Teddy Soeriaatmadja's Something in the Way, starring Reza Rahadian, as another notable movie to watch at this year's festival. The film, whose sexual content will likely preclude a domestic release, has a strong moral message, Christian says.
The 21-year-old commerce student at the University of Melbourne said that the event aimed to showcase the diversity of Indonesia and give people an experience of the archipelago beyond Bali.
'We hope that we reach the wider community and give them an insight into Indonesian culture they may not have seen before,' Christian said.
While Indonesian films are no strangers to international film festivals in Australia, organizers are confident their festival will be unique and intimate. 'It's a festival unlike any other,' said Christian. 'It's a place where you can gather with others who have the same passions as you ' not only film, but Indonesian culture.'
Previous iterations of the event have featured public workshops with director Joko Anwar and his producers Sheila Timothy and Tia Hasibuan and screenings of films such as the comedy Nagabonar Jadi 2 (Nagabonar Turns 2), the omnibus film Rectoverso, Joko's surreal thriller Modus Anomali, and Catatan Harian Si Boy (Boy's Diary).
Putrama Tuta, the director of Catatan, said that the festival offered Indonesian filmmakers a chance to forge future collaborations. 'I was honored to showcase a part of our culture with such great appreciation,' he said.
To support independent filmmakers, this year's festival will feature the winner of a film competition organised by the Indonesian Students Association of Australia (PPIA).
The winner will have a chance to screen their film in Australia and to mingle with festival guests.
'We target filmmakers who usually begin by creating short films. In most cases, these artists are looking for venues to publicise their work and we offer the possibility of a free screening with no application fees,' said Christian.
Putrama was upbeat on the prospects for the nation's cinema. 'Indonesian films are taking their steps internationally. With our unbelievably talented resources, I believe time will be on our side. The growth of the industry will support the rise of Indonesian cinema.'
The festival also has an educational value, as Australian schools scramble to boost their students' Indonesian and Asian language skills.
'We cater especially to those with an interest in Indonesian language,' said Christian. 'We invite school students to come to the festival and continue to learn more about our language and culture.'
For the Indonesian community in Australia, particularly the 10,000 or so students studying Down Under, festivals like this play an important role in cultural exchange, according to Christian.
'For Indonesians, it's a time when you can feel at home and watch a film together with your family. We'll make sure you watch the top Indonesian films and have the opportunity to meet talented moviemakers,' he said.
In Melbourne, the festival will be hosted by the Australian Center for the Moving Image from Apr. 24 to May 3, and screenings in Sydney will run from Apr. 25 to 27 at the Event Cinemas on George Street.
For more information,
visit iffmelbourne.com.
