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FSAI returns with focus on indigenous and environmental themes
Smash it: Laura Basuki portrays Indonesian badminton legend Susi Susanti in Susi Susanti: Love All
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Smash it: Laura Basuki portrays Indonesian badminton legend Susi Susanti in Susi Susanti: Love All.
Grab your popcorn and drink and get ready to hit the movie theater for a variety of films showcased in this year’s Festival Sinema Australia Indonesia (FSAI).
This year’s edition of FSAI has a strong indigenous theme at its heart. Both the festival’s opening movie, the romantic comedy Top End Wedding and Australian family drama Emu Runner tell the stories of Indigenous Aboriginal people, while also showcasing the raw beauty of the outback landscape.
“We tried for a stronger indigenous theme [this year] because it’s important to us,” said Allaster Cox, the Australian chargé d’affaires to Indonesia.
Shining a light on contemporary filmmaking, the annual celebration of both Australia and Indonesia’s local film industries is set to kick off in Jakarta on Feb. 14, and will make its way throughout the country.
Continuing to grow year by year, the festival is excited to expand its screenings to six cities — Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, Mataram, Bandung and for the first time, Yogyakarta. Now in its fifth year, FSAI is part of the Australian Embassy’s Australia Connect program — working to strengthen bonds between the two neighboring countries.
“Film is an excellent way to share stories and learn more about other cultures,” Cox said.
“This year’s selection of Australian and Indonesian films show the diversity of both our countries, as well as our wealth of creative talent.”
This year’s festival also touches on environmental issues through feature documentary film 2040. Concerned for his daughter’s future, the documentary sees filmmaker Damon Gameau travel the world in search of new approaches and solutions to climate change. Through his journey, he meets innovators and changemakers in various fields to draw on their expertise.
Other Australian films that will be screened include the internationally acclaimed horror film The Babadook and the psychological thriller Angel of Mine.
Each year, FSAI celebrates the close connections between Australia and Indonesia in film — and will again showcase movies by Indonesians who are also Australian alumni.
This year’s lineup includes the acclaimed drama Susi Susanti: Love All, from executive producer Daniel Mananta, an Australian alumni and the 2020 Sahabat FSAI (FSAI Friend).
Daniel, a household name in Indonesia and avid film fan, said it was “a huge honor” to be chosen as this year’s Sahabat FSAI. He believes the festival is a fantastic way to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
“We can learn from each other, inspire each other and most importantly get closer to each other,” Daniel said.
The two other Indonesian films that will feature alongside Susi Susanti: Love All are Bebas (Free) and Kulari ke Pantai (I Run to the Beach), both from producer Mira Lesmana.
In recent years, the Indonesian film scene has been booming — with the government deregulating the sector and allowing the industry to expand.
“So actually, the film industry in Indonesia is pretty healthy — perhaps healthier than in Australia,” Cox said.
— Gabriella Payne traveled to Indonesia under a ACICIS Study Indonesia program.
— Photos courtesy of IMDb.com
