Bandung city will host the nation's most prestigious film festival, the Indonesian Film Festival (FFI 2008), on Dec. 12.

The FFI is the ceremony announcing the winners of the Citra Awards, the annual awards for the Indonesian film industry. The theme of this year's FFI is "Revival, Heading For a New Image".

The 53rd FFI will be held in the Merdeka Building on Jl. Asia Afrika in Bandung. This year, 50 Indonesian films have earned nominations, with one notable exception being Laskar Pelangi (Rainbow Warriors), which has not been registered by producer Mira Lesmana.

The FFI committee's preparations for the event have not been running smoothly, as revealed by Rosyid E Aby, a committee member from the Bandung Film Forum (FFB).

According to Rosyid, the committee is lacking funds for promotions, and financial assistance from the government -- which promised Rp 500 million (US$42,000) -- has not been forthcoming.

Due to the limited promotions, most people in Bandung have no idea the prestigious event will be held in their city, with no banners, posters or other signs advertising the fact.

It's a far cry from the political parties, whose posters and banners are spread across every intersection in the city.

"But we're sure that later this event will be a success, because in this city the only announcements will be the (FFI) jury's results," Rosyid said.

"There is no need for a fancy program. In any case, they say the expenses will be borne by the committee in the Jakarta headquarters."

In the meantime, the Bandung city government plans to donate the Rp 500 million needed to hold the FFI 2008. But according to the head of the Bandung Culture and Tourism Department, Askari Wiranta Atmaja, the funding has yet to be approved.

It doesn't help if, as Askari says, the proposed government assistance of Rp 500 million for FFI 2008 is too high.

Prize categories for films entered in the Citra Awards remain the same as in previous years. There are nominations for the best original story, best adaptation, direction, cinematography, artistic arrangement, editing, sound arrangement, musical arrangement, the best male actor and the best female actor.

Other categories include best supporting male and female roles, best film story, best short film and best documentary.

This year there are five nominations for the short film award: A Kite (directed by Achmad Rofiq), Cheng Cheng Po (B W Purbanegara), Daun Terus Melayang (A Drifting Leaf, by Rahabi Mandra), Hanung Ing Larung (Hery Sasongko), Ibu dan Anak-anakku (Mother and her Children, by Wicaksono Wisnu) and Nyawa-nyawa Mendamaikan Persada (Souls find Peace in their Homeland, by Robby Ertanto).

In the documentary category, four films have been nominated: Catatan Terakhir dari Nusakambangan (Last Note from Nusakambangan, directed by Moriza and Nurshinta), Ritus Swara Djaduk (Hari Suryanto), Tarianku Negeriku (My Dance My Country, by Musa Tambunan) and The Conductor (Andibachtiar Yusuf).

Films nominated in the best movie story category include May, Fiksi (Fiction) and Under the Tree, which are set to dominate the event as they already have the greatest number of nominations. May, by filmmaker Viva Westi, scored 11 nominations out of the 13 categories available.

Creator Mouly Surya received 10 nominations for Fiksi, while Under the Tree, by Garin Nugroho, received nine.

Three Prayers Three Loves has received seven nominations, Radit & Jani six nominations and Claudia/Jasmine has five nominations. Meanwhile, the only nomination for box-office hit Ayat-ayat Cinta (Verses of Love) is for best supporting male actor.

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