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ctor Donny Damara was named best actor for his role in the film Lovely Man at the 2012 Indonesian Film Festival (FFI) in Yogyakarta on Saturday, while the best actress award went to Acha Septriasa for her role in Test Pack You’re My Baby.

The award was not the first for Donny, who was also crowned best actor at the prestigious Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong, for his role as a transvestite sex worker the film, directed by Teddy Soeriaatmadja.

Acha, popular for her many roles in teen flicks, thanked the festival. “This is my first Citra, thank you,” she said in her speech, referring to the festival’s coveted award.

The awards night went on modestly but was lively with strong Javanese culture nuance at the Benteng Vredeburg fortress in the Ground Zero area of downtown Yogyakarta. Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu and Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, who is also the province’s Sultan, attended the event.

Hundreds of film lovers who packed the fortress to get glimpses of their favorite actors and actresses, could not help cheering out loud when Reza Rahardian and Donny Damara walked on the red carpet.

Reza said he believes that anyone who can bring home the prestigious Citra Award is the best, adding that he believed a film’s scenario determined the best actor to play the role.

“I can’t decide whether I will play in this or that film or that I want to go after a certain project,” he was quoted by Antara.

Reza was nominated for best actor for his role in Test Pack You’re My Baby alongside Donny Damara, Emir Mahira in Garuda di Dadaku (Garuda in my Heart), Muhammad Syihab in Cita-citaku Setinggi Tanah (My dream as high as the ground) and Tio Pakusadewo in Rayya “Cahaya di Atas Cahaya” (Rayya “Light above Light”).
The film festival handed down awards in 14 categories for big-screen movies as well as best short and documentary films. The 15-member jury, led by Syamsudin, selected winners from 48 registered film titles.

“There are 86 titles of commercial films produced in the country this year but only 48 registered since those from the horror genre are not registering,” the festival’s organizing committee chairman Duto Sulistiadi said, quoted by okezone.com.

On Saturday, Fuad Idris from the movie Tanah Surga ... Katanya (Land of paradise … it is said) was named best supporting actor, while best supporting actress went to Mak Gondut in Demi Ucok (For Ucok), who beat veteran actresses like Meriam Bellina in Test Pack You’re My Baby and Wulan Guritno in Dilema (Dillemma).

Best artistic director award went to Ezra Tampubolon (Tanah Surga ... Katanya) while Satrio Budiyono from Rumah di Seribu Ombak (A House in A Thousand of Waves) was named the best sound arranger. Best music arranger award was brought home by Tursi Adisuryo (Tanah Surga ... Katanya).

Best original story award went to Daniel Rifky (Tanah Surga ... Katanya), while Jujur Prananto from Rumah di Seribu Ombak won the award for best scenario writer.

Best Editor went to Cesa David Lukmansyah (Rumah Di Seribu Ombak) and Yudi Datau won Best Cinematography (Dillema).

Mari said Yogyakarta was the right choice to host this year’s FFI because the province is special in terms of culture and expressed her hope there would be significant development coming out of the festival for the Indonesian movies.

Sultan Hamengkubuwono expressed his pride that Yogyakarta was selected to host the festival, kompas.com reported. “Hopefully the FFI will motivate Indonesians to create films that are known worldwide,” he said.

The event was made merrier with the performance of musician-composer Djaduk Ferianto with his Kua Etnika group of Yogyakarta, which collaborated with musician and composer Andi Riyanto of Jakarta.

Initiated in 1995, the FFI went through a hiatus of 12 years from 1992 when the Indonesian film industry faced the dark years of the 1990s, before the festival was reborn in 2004.

The festival has been marred by a string of controversies, including selection and nominations, poor performance by the organizers, and the accusation of sidelining new talent in the industry.