T

wo biopics racked up nods in four major categories as the 2014 Festival Film Indonesia (FFI) announced its nominees for the Citra Awards, the local equivalent of the Oscars, on Monday night.

Soekarno, about the nation'€™s first president, and 3 Nafas Likas (Likas'€™ Three Breaths), about the wife of a Batak general and hero of the Independence War, each received nominations for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Film Citras.

Kemala Atmojo, head of the FFI organizing committee, said that new procedures meant that active film practitioners would drive selection of nominees and final winners.

'€œWe hope this will lead to better, more objective and more credible results for the satisfaction of all,'€ Kemala said at the opening of the nomination announcements on Monday evening at the Tourism Ministry building in Central Jakarta.

The films vying for the Citra for Best Picture are 3 Nafas Likas, Cahaya Dari Timur (Light from the East), Sebelum Pagi Terulang Kembali (Before Morning Returns), Soekarno and Sokola Rimba (Jungle School).

The nominees for best actress include Atiqah Hasiholan for 3 Nafas Likas, Revalina S. Temat for Hijrah Cinta, Maudy Koesnaedi for Soe-karno, Prisia Nasution for Sokola Rimba, and Dewi Irawan for Tabula Rasa (Blank Slate), while the best actor nominees are Vino G. Bastian for 3 Nafas Likas, Chico Jericho for Cahaya Dari Timur, Abimana Arya-satya for Haji Backpacker, Ario Bayu for Soekarno and Herjunot Ali in Tenggelamnya Kapal Van Der Wijk (The Sinking of the Van Der Wijk).

The directors up for the Citra include Rako Prijanto for 3 Nafas Likas, Lucky Kuswandi for Selamat Pagi, Malam, Hanung Bramantyo for Soekarno, Riri Riza for Sokola Rimba, and Adrianto Dewo for
Tabula Rasa.

A selection panel of 100 directors, cinematographers, scriptwriters, actors and producers, among others, considered 386 films, including 50 feature films, 81 made-for-TV movies, 138 short films, 32 animated films and 85 documentaries.

In a change from previous practice, nominations within the feature-film category were determined by subject matter experts, such as directors choosing the nominees for best director.

In the next phase, the full jury of 70 film practitioners, 15 non-cinematic judges and the 15 subject matter experts, will choose the winners in the feature-film arena, although films in other categories will continue to be chosen by 5-person committees.

Among the members of the feature-film jury are noted talents such as directors Garin Nugroho, Joko Anwar and Mouly Surya; script writers Salman Aristo and Djenar Maesa Ayu; producers Sheila Timothy and Erwin Arnada; and actors Lukman Sardi and Jajang C. Noer.

Festival spokesperson Edwin Nazir said that the new selection procedures meant some filmmakers who have been notably absent from the festival in recent years have submitted their work for consideration.

'€œFor the first time since 2007, director Riri Riza and producer Mira Lesmana submitted their work,'€ Edwin said, referring to the acclaimed duo, who, along with more than 180 other filmmakers, returned their Citra Awards to protest the organization and credibility of the FFI in 2007.

The FFI awards ceremony will be held in Palembang, South Sumatra, on Dec. 6.