The old ways may indeed be the best, after all, as veteran actors and filmmakers dominated the proceedings at this year’s Vidia Award — the award branch of the annual Indonesian Film Festival (FFI) recognizing the best in local television film productions.

In the award ceremony, held at Balai Sarbini in Jakarta on Thursday night, Pahala Terindah (The Most Beautiful Reward) emerged as the big winner with eight awards, including Best Television Film, Best Director for Herwin Novianto, Best Actor for Slamet Rahardjo and Best Actress for Ratna Riantiarno.

A joint production between Demi Gisela Citra Sinema and Surya Citra Televisi, Pahala Terindah beat out fellow nominees Bintang Film (Movie Star), Cinta Pengamen Badut (Love of the Street Clown Singer), Citra, and Namaku Pariyem (My Name is Pariyem).

Pahala Terindah tells the story of a troubled polygamous marriage and was shot at the Dieng Plateau in Central Java.

The other four awards the film won were for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Sound and Best Supporting Actress for Ratu Tika Bravani. The film also reaped three other nominations for Best Original Story, Best Original Screenplay and Best Musical Score.

Senior director and screenwriter Imam Tantowi emerged as the winner in both Best Original Story and Best Original Screenplay for Bintang Film, while noted veteran composer Thoersi Argeswara snatched the Best Musical Score award for Citra.  

There were 12 categories in contention in the awards.

Sundanese comedian and actor Epy Kusnandar, 48, won the Best Supporting Actor award for his role in Maaf, Lebaran ini Kami Tidak Pulang (Sorry, We Won’t Be Going Home This Idul Fitri).

Veteran actor and filmmaker Deddy Mizwar, the founder of Demi Gisela Citra Cinema production house, said that he hoped the awards for Pahala Terindah would motivate its cast and crew to continue producing quality works in the future.

“I am very glad that people appreciated our film. Almost all aspects of Pahala Terindah were nominated. I hope this achievement can drive us to increase the quality of our next films,” said Deddy, as quoted by
kapanlagi.com.

His acting performances as the comical thief-turned-general Nagabonar in 1987’s Nagabonar and a haplessly stressed-out newlywed in 1986’s Kejarlah Daku Kau Kutangkap (Run After Me, I’ll Catch You) are widely beloved and often regarded as legendary among Indonesian film fans.

In recent years, he has also been known for his sharp-witted satirical films, including Kiamat Sudah Dekat (Doomsday is Nigh) and Alangkah Lucunya Negeri Ini (How Funny This Country Is).  

Similarly, Best Actor winner Slamet Rahardjo is also a well-respected Indonesian actor with a career spanning over 40 years, highlighted by such unforgettable roles as in 1977’s Badai Pasti Berlalu (The Storm Will Pass), 1978’s November 1828, and 1988’s Tjoet Nja’ Dhien.

Best Actress winner Ratna Riantiarno, meanwhile, is a veteran stage actress who has taken on film roles from time to time. She said that winning the award was an honor for her.

“I am so glad of this award. As someone who rarely acted in films, this is truly an honor for me,” said the 60-year-old wife of noted stage director Norbertus “Nano” Riantiarno.

Writer Arswendo Atmowiloto, the chairman of the award’s jury, said that he saw so much progress in local TV film productions this year, especially in the fields of cinematography. “There may be just one or two companies making TV films like that, but the results are very good.”

He said that 77 TV films were considered in the selection process for this year’s Vidia awards, which were held in several stages between Nov. 5 and Nov. 27 this year.

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