More than 20 films and six book-to-film adaptations have found potential investors at Akatara 2019, a funding forum initiated by the Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf) and the Indonesian Film Board (BPI).

Held from Sept. 19 to 21 at the Sultan Hotel in Central Jakarta, the forum presented 61 film projects that vied for funding from approximately 40 Indonesian and foreign investors. 

Akatara pitching forum director Ruth Pakpahan confirmed that several filmmakers were pursuing deals with their investors, though they had yet to discuss figures and a majority were being kept under wraps until they were finalized.

“However, we can say that more than 20 projects have secured further meetings with investors,” she said.

Among the 20 projects is Radio Rimba (Jungle Radio), a family adventure-drama to be directed by Sim F., who is currently wrapping up his first feature film, Susi Susanti: Love All, a biopic on living Indonesian badminton legend Susy Susanti.

“The response has been positive for my project,” said Radio Rimba producer Wilza Lubis. “We will be meeting [the investors] outside Akatara because they wanted to see every project featured here, so we didn’t get the chance to talk too long,” she said, adding that the meeting would discuss the general plot as well as the film’s investment value.

Wilza, who also produced the critically acclaimed 27 Steps of May, said that funding programs like Akatara were extremely helpful in providing filmmakers a bridge to investors.

Bekraf public funding head Hanifah said that Akatara received around 350 project proposals this year, a nearly fourfold increase from the 90 proposals it received during the debut event in 2017.

The film projects also varied in type, ranging from feature-length documentaries to animated series and to short fiction. Akatara also included film-related initiatives like film festivals and film schools, and opened its doors to digital games this year.

Hong Kong-based video streaming service Viu has pledged support for Aruh Film Kalimantan 2019, a film festival that highlights Kalimantan cinema scheduled to run from Dec. 6 to 8 in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.

Hopeful: Akatara 2019 showcases a total of 61 projects selected from nearly 500 entries.

Akatara 2019 also hosted the “From Book to Screen” pitching forum in cooperation with the National Book Committee, the Association of Indonesian Film Producers (APROFI) and the BPI.

Akatara founder and BPI funding facilitation head Agung Sentausa said that several producers expressed their interest in adapting six titles at the forum.

Among the titles are Buku Panduan Matematika Terapan (Applied Mathematics Handbook) by Triskaidekaman, Misteri Patung Garam (Mystery of the Salt Statue) by Ruwi Meita and Kami Bukan Sarjana Kertas (We Are Not Paper Scholars) by J.S. Khairen.

Aside from private investors, government-funded initiatives also threw their support behind some projects.

The Education and Culture Ministry’s Film Development Center pledged Rp 30 million (US$2,132) before taxes for producing short documentary Senandung Senyap (Silent Song).

Meanwhile, the Regional Film Commission, an umbrella body for provincial and municipal film commissions, offered subsidies for location fees as an incentive to filmmakers, as well as grants.

West Java’s Bandung film commission is supporting three projects, while East Java’s Banyuwangi, commission is supporting two.

Riau’s Siak film commission has pledged support for three projects, including the Muslim-oriented Madani Film Festival. East Java’s Bojonegoro film commission was the most generous with its plan to support six projects.

Wilza said that while filmmakers were very open to working with regional administrations across the country, many productions were concentrated on Java due to the relatively easy access.

“But if we can work with regional administrations, this will be a mutually beneficial situation, as the region can gain exposure from the movies while filming can run smoothly with [the region’s] support,” said Wilza.

“We don’t have to talk about the international audience just yet. Indonesia is  a goldmine in itself, since we have such a large population of potential viewers,” she added.

Eyeing investment: Filmmakers pitch their projects to potential investors at the Akatara 2019 funding forum, held from Sept. 19 to 21 at the Sultan Hotel in Central Jakarta.

- Photos by JP/Narabeto Korohama