The award night was held at the Jakarta Convention Center on Saturday and livestreamed through YouTube and social media platforms.

It was the first time in the history of the film industry a horror movie had gotten such recognition thus marking the sensational achievement this genre has booked the past decade in amassing a large number of viewers.

The potential of the Indonesian horror film genre, which has its own DNA coming from the rich folklore, ancestral beliefs and urban myths, is on its way to getting global recognition as Impetigore was submitted to represent the country at the 2021 Academy Awards.

Joko, who won Best Director for the box office film, reminded fellow filmmakers that every film genre has the same chance to contribute to the development of the Indonesian film industry.

“With hard work, undivided dedication and passion for work we could raise Indonesian films higher, appealing to our viewers and the international community,” he said in his winning speech.

“[The pandemic] halted us right at the time when Indonesian films were at their peak. We’ve got the viewers’ faith in quality films and we should not return with films that may lose their trust in Indonesian films.

“[Achieving that] is not the responsibility of a person or a group of people. It involves all stakeholders in the industry. Let’s work together to upgrade not only our profession but also Indonesian films where our true passion is.”

Real and virtual stage: The award night was held at the Jakarta Convention Center on Saturday and livestreamed through YouTube and social media platforms. (Courtesy of FFI 2020/-)

In addition to Impetigore, the title of which is a made-up word to name a strange disease suffered by the children of a village in the story, two other horror films – Ratu Ilmu Hitam (The Queen of Black Magic) and Sebelum Iblis Menjemput Ayat 2 (May The Devil Take You: Chapter Two) – were also nominated in various categories, including for visual effects and editing. 

Impetigore was nominated in 17 categories – more than any other film – and won Best Supporting Actress for Christine Hakim; Best Editor for Dinda Amanda; Best Sound Editor for Mohamad Ikhsan, Syamsurrijal, and Anhar Moha; and Best Director of Photography for Ical Tanjung.

This year’s FFI, which has reached its 40th edition despite a long absence from 1992 to 2003, also recorded the rise of female filmmakers, who accounted for 40 percent of the nominees.

Some of the winners were veterans, but new talents also emerged.

Gunawan Maryanto won Best Actor for his role in Hiruk Pikuk si Alkisah (The Science of Fictions) “although I wasn’t given a single line” he said jokingly while accepting the Citra trophy, adding that the film, which had traveled to international film festivals during the past year, would finally be released at home on Dec. 10.

Laura Basuki won Best Actress for her impressive rendition of the titular badminton champion in Susi Susanti - Love All, her second after FFI 2010.

Best Supporting Actor was given posthumously to Ade Firman Hakim for his role in Ratu Ilmu Hitam. He passed away in September due to illness.

Married couple Ernest Prakasa and Meira Anastasia won Best Adapted Screenplay for Imperfect: Karier, Cinta & Timbangan (Career, Love and Bathroom scale), while Adriyanto Dewo won Best Original Screenplay for Mudik (Homecoming).

The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Tatiek Maliyati WS. Formerly an actress, now 86, she was also a scriptwriter, lecturer and member of the film censor board. The award was received by her son Danton Sihombing, the current head of the Jakarta Arts Council. (ste)