No sound: An image taken from the scene in the silent movie "Angel Sign". (Courtesy of Angel Sign Film Partners/JFF 2019)

Angel Sign is an omnibus of seven shorts, two of which, titled Prologue and Epilogue, are directed by Hojo. Other directors involved in the film are Nonzee Nimibutr from Thailand, Vietnam’s Ham Tran, Japan’s Ken Ochiai and Masatsugu Asahi, and prominent Indonesian director Kamila Andini.

Kamila’s part is the 20-minute Back Home with Indonesian actor Teuku Rifnu Wikana and Japanese actress Mikako Yoshida playing the main characters.

Far from home: A scene from "Back Home" directed by Indonesian director Kamila Andini. (Courtesy of Angel Sign Film Partners/JFF 2019)

The stories in the critically acclaimed movie, which was released in its host country last August, were picked from the Silent Manga Audition, from which the producer chose five non-dialogue comic submissions out of 6,888 sent from 108 countries. There is no dialogue in the entire film but the sound of music.

The Japan Foundation as the JFF’s organizer will also present Angel Sign actress Yoshida Mikako and JFF 2019 ambassador Zara JKT48 at the opening night.

Jakarta is the first city to host the film festival from Nov. 7-10, before it runs in Yogyakarta from Nov. 19-23 in collaboration with the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival, Makassar in South Sulawesi (Nov. 29-Dec. 1), Surabaya in East Java (Dec. 6-8) and Bandung in West Java (Dec. 20-22).

Thirteen Japanese new releases will be screened at the festival, as well as Indonesian film Humba Dreams directed by Riri Riza.

Long journey: A scene from Riri Riza's latest film "Humba Dreams". (Courtesy of Miles Films/JFF 2019)

The event has something for everyone as it comprises different genres. Teen movies We Are Little Zombies and Little Love Song shows the struggle of young teenagers finding their passion in music, while animation Children of the Sea and feature film My Dad is a Heel Wrestler offer different perspectives of world issues.

Family drama Bento Harassment serves as an eye-feasting parenting tutorial, while documentary Katsuo-bushi reveals the truth behind the moving flakes on a box of takoyaki.

Fans of Takuya Kimura can see him in action in Masquerade Hotel, while singing idol-cum-actor Jun’ichi Okada plays an assassin in the manga adaptation The Fable.

Horror flick 12 Suicidal Teens will keep viewers on the edge of their seats as the teens try to solve a mystery, while romantic comedy A Banana? At This Time of Night?, comedy Samurai Shifters, which is set in the Shogun Era, and Dance With Me (Can’t Stop The Dancing) are alternatives for those looking for lighter yet heart-racing entertainment.

As in previous years, viewers have the chance to get exclusive JFF 2019 merchandise.

Tickets for the Jakarta leg are available online at cgv.id and the CGV mobile application, as well as on-site ticket booths for Rp 20,000 (US$1.43) in Jakarta, Surabaya and Bandung, and Rp 15,000 in Makassar. (ste)