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Indonesian docs on the lookout for producers, compelling storytelling style

Even before the health crisis that forced people to stay home, documentaries had become the most prestigious form of creative expression.

Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak (The Jakarta Post)
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Jakarta
Thu, August 6, 2020

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T

here is a common misconception that nonfiction films, such as documentaries, are not as appealing as feature films and, therefore, do not sell well, but filmmakers and an exhibitor beg to differ.

Alien’s film director, Sir Ridley Scott, had secured a spot at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival to screen a participatory documentary that would be based on footage sent by world citizens depicting their life events on July 25.

Under the working title Life in a Day to be helmed by documentary director Kevin Macdonald, the project would serve as an archive of the historical 2020 when the world shared the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Legends and legacy: Docuseries "The Last Dance" chronicles the rise of US basketball team Chicago's Bulls in the 1990s. Since the premiere in April, it averaged nearly 5.7 million viewers across all 10 episodes that made the series the most-watched ESPN documentary of all time. (IMDB/-)

The health crisis hit the film industry badly but it less impacted the documentary filmmakers. Eagle Institute Indonesia, which organizes Eagle Docs Awards, for example, initiated Recording from Home projects, while the Archipelago Documentary Filmmakers Association (ADN) organized the Records of the Pandemic program as part of an effort to archive the current realities.

Even before the health crisis that forced people to stay home, documentaries had become the most prestigious form of creative expression.

The government, nonprofit organizations, and popular brands used feature documentaries – or at least apply the documentary film-making style in conveying subliminal messages without a strong advertising agenda – for purposes ranging from going viral and changing minds to winning awards.

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