Indonesian filmmakers Kamila Andini and Ifa Isfansyah are making their Netflix debut with five-part series Cigarette Girl (Gadis Kretek), which streams worldwide from November 2.
Deadline sat down with the husband-and-wife filmmaking team, both award-winning arthouse directors in their own right, in Busan International Film Festival, where the first few episodes of the series world premiered as part of the festival’s Indonesia Special Program.
Based on Ratih Kumala’s novel ‘Gadis Kretek’, the story spans two time periods – in the 1960s, the daughter of a family business producing Indonesia’s world-famous clove cigarettes struggles to make her mark in a male-dominated industry, while in the early 2000s, a young man is searching for a mystery woman to fulfil his father’s dying wish.
Dian Sastrowardoyo and Ario Bayu, both big stars in Indonesia, play the love struck main characters in the 1960s, while Putri Marino and Arya Saloka play a...
Deadline sat down with the husband-and-wife filmmaking team, both award-winning arthouse directors in their own right, in Busan International Film Festival, where the first few episodes of the series world premiered as part of the festival’s Indonesia Special Program.
Based on Ratih Kumala’s novel ‘Gadis Kretek’, the story spans two time periods – in the 1960s, the daughter of a family business producing Indonesia’s world-famous clove cigarettes struggles to make her mark in a male-dominated industry, while in the early 2000s, a young man is searching for a mystery woman to fulfil his father’s dying wish.
Dian Sastrowardoyo and Ario Bayu, both big stars in Indonesia, play the love struck main characters in the 1960s, while Putri Marino and Arya Saloka play a...
- 10/17/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
The Indonesian film industry is poised to spread its wings globally as the country’s filmmaking boom is the subject of a focus at the Busan International Film Festival.
Films from the country now routinely get selected and win prizes at major international festivals. The local market in Indonesia, which has the fourth-largest population in the world with 277 million, is rapidly expanding with homegrown productions accounting for a significant share. Indonesia is also bolstering its cultural policies that include an annual $13 million international co-production grant. Featured at Busan this year are 15 features, shorts and series.
The festival has been inviting Indonesian films since 1996. In 2004, the late Kim Ji-seok, after whom one of the festival’s top awards is named now, curated a program titled ‘Garin [Nugroho] and the Next Generation: New Possibility of Indonesian Cinema.’ “I realized that the next generation is already visible, but overlooked,” festival programmer Park Sungho told Variety.
Films from the country now routinely get selected and win prizes at major international festivals. The local market in Indonesia, which has the fourth-largest population in the world with 277 million, is rapidly expanding with homegrown productions accounting for a significant share. Indonesia is also bolstering its cultural policies that include an annual $13 million international co-production grant. Featured at Busan this year are 15 features, shorts and series.
The festival has been inviting Indonesian films since 1996. In 2004, the late Kim Ji-seok, after whom one of the festival’s top awards is named now, curated a program titled ‘Garin [Nugroho] and the Next Generation: New Possibility of Indonesian Cinema.’ “I realized that the next generation is already visible, but overlooked,” festival programmer Park Sungho told Variety.
- 10/9/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Polish filmmaker Jerzy Skolimowski, whose sixty-year career in cinema has included the highest honors of the Berlin, Venice and Cannes film festivals, received an invitation to attend China’s Shanghai International Film Festival earlier this year while he was in Los Angeles for the Academy Awards, where his latest movie, Eo, was nominated for an Oscar. Skolimowski says he accepted the surprise invite — which included serving as Shanghai’s jury president for the festival’s 30th-anniversary edition — for reasons both “very private and a little sentimental.”
Skolimowski, 85, revealed those reasons on stage Friday at the Shanghai Grand Theater, during the festival’s opening ceremony.
“My father was born in North East China over 100 years ago, where my grandfather, the famous Polish architect, Kazimierz Skolimowski, devoted himself to designing the urban plan for one of the great cities 1,000 kilometers from here,” Skolimowski said during his brief remarks before the mostly Chinese crowd.
Skolimowski, 85, revealed those reasons on stage Friday at the Shanghai Grand Theater, during the festival’s opening ceremony.
“My father was born in North East China over 100 years ago, where my grandfather, the famous Polish architect, Kazimierz Skolimowski, devoted himself to designing the urban plan for one of the great cities 1,000 kilometers from here,” Skolimowski said during his brief remarks before the mostly Chinese crowd.
- 6/13/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Shanghai International Film Festival kicked off on a triumphant note Friday night in China’s commercial capital as the country’s film industry threw open its doors to the global film community.
This year’s edition of China’s most prestigious cinema event is the first in over three years that is easily accessible to the outside world after the past three festivals were either canceled, put online or simply very difficult to attend because of the country’s strict Covid-19 travel restrictions. The festival also happens to be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, as well as arriving at a moment when China’s commercial film industry is finally regaining some momentum after the long years of the pandemic.
“Each section of this year’s Shanghai International Film Festival is fully back offline, and we are more than thrilled to meet all guests in-person again,” says Wenquan He,...
This year’s edition of China’s most prestigious cinema event is the first in over three years that is easily accessible to the outside world after the past three festivals were either canceled, put online or simply very difficult to attend because of the country’s strict Covid-19 travel restrictions. The festival also happens to be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, as well as arriving at a moment when China’s commercial film industry is finally regaining some momentum after the long years of the pandemic.
“Each section of this year’s Shanghai International Film Festival is fully back offline, and we are more than thrilled to meet all guests in-person again,” says Wenquan He,...
- 6/9/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Shanghai International Film Festival (Siff) has unveiled the major competition selections for its 25th edition (June 9-18), which will be the first to be held in a fully physical format with international guests since before the pandemic.
The festival’s Golden Goblet Awards comprises five sections – Main Competition, Asian New Talent, Animation Film, Documentary Film and Short Film. Winners will be announced at a ceremony in the Shanghai Grand Theater on June 17.
Siff’s main competition will screen 12 films, including Mom, Is That You?!, from Japanese veteran filmmaker Yoji Yamada; European titles including Muyeres, from Spanish director Marta Lallana, and The Chapel, from Belgium’s Dominique Deruddere; Indian director Haobam Paban Kumar’s Joseph’s Son; and three Chinese titles – Liu Jiayin’s All Ears, Johnathan Li’s Dust To Dust and Chen Shizhong’s Good Autumn, Mommy.
Poland’s Jerzy Skolimowski is heading the jury for the main competition,...
The festival’s Golden Goblet Awards comprises five sections – Main Competition, Asian New Talent, Animation Film, Documentary Film and Short Film. Winners will be announced at a ceremony in the Shanghai Grand Theater on June 17.
Siff’s main competition will screen 12 films, including Mom, Is That You?!, from Japanese veteran filmmaker Yoji Yamada; European titles including Muyeres, from Spanish director Marta Lallana, and The Chapel, from Belgium’s Dominique Deruddere; Indian director Haobam Paban Kumar’s Joseph’s Son; and three Chinese titles – Liu Jiayin’s All Ears, Johnathan Li’s Dust To Dust and Chen Shizhong’s Good Autumn, Mommy.
Poland’s Jerzy Skolimowski is heading the jury for the main competition,...
- 5/29/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
The Sundance Film Festival Asia, an offshoot of the Sundance Institute, is to set up camp in Taipei, Taiwan this summer. The three-day mini festival will run Aug. 18-20 and be put together in association with local organizer G2Go Entertainment.
The event will showcase a handful of films curated by the Sundance Institute and host a short film competition that is open only to Taiwanese productions.
Panel discussions will accompany the festival to foster artistic exchange, providing opportunities for the Taiwan film industry to connect with Sundance’s executive team, and elevating Taiwan’s image and presence in the global independent film industry.
The jury for the Taiwan short film competition, includes: Kim Yutani, director of programming, Sundance Film Festival, Heidi Zwicker, Sundance senior programmer and Mike Plante, Sundance’s senior programmer, for short films. The winning film will receive a Nt$50,000 cash prize.
“The Asia edition is a...
The event will showcase a handful of films curated by the Sundance Institute and host a short film competition that is open only to Taiwanese productions.
Panel discussions will accompany the festival to foster artistic exchange, providing opportunities for the Taiwan film industry to connect with Sundance’s executive team, and elevating Taiwan’s image and presence in the global independent film industry.
The jury for the Taiwan short film competition, includes: Kim Yutani, director of programming, Sundance Film Festival, Heidi Zwicker, Sundance senior programmer and Mike Plante, Sundance’s senior programmer, for short films. The winning film will receive a Nt$50,000 cash prize.
“The Asia edition is a...
- 5/26/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Returning as an in-person event after cancelation last year, the Shanghai International Film Festival has set out an agenda with a clear focus on China.
The festival (June 9-16) will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, China’s economic outreach and development program. With a series of press conferences and film culture roundtables, the Siff’s Belt and Road Film Week will “bring together old friends of the alliance from previous years and new friends made this year [..] and announce an action plan for the future.”
The festival’s most prestigious section, the Golden Goblet Awards will operate in five parts: main competition, Asian new talent, documentary features, animated features and short films. The jury for the competition section is to be headed by Poland’s Jerzy Skolimowski, accompanied by India’s Nandita Das, Indonesia’s Garin Nugroho, German cinematographer Lutz Reitemeier, China’s Song Jia,...
The festival (June 9-16) will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, China’s economic outreach and development program. With a series of press conferences and film culture roundtables, the Siff’s Belt and Road Film Week will “bring together old friends of the alliance from previous years and new friends made this year [..] and announce an action plan for the future.”
The festival’s most prestigious section, the Golden Goblet Awards will operate in five parts: main competition, Asian new talent, documentary features, animated features and short films. The jury for the competition section is to be headed by Poland’s Jerzy Skolimowski, accompanied by India’s Nandita Das, Indonesia’s Garin Nugroho, German cinematographer Lutz Reitemeier, China’s Song Jia,...
- 5/18/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Indonesian film festival reveals record audience figures.
Makbul Mubarak’s Autobiography has won the top prize – the Golden Hanoman – at the closing night of Indonesia’s Jogja-netpac Asian Film Festival (Jaff). Lola Amaria’s documentary The Exiles (Eksil) picked up the best film prize from the Indonesian Screen Awards.
Indonesian drama Autobiography has been on a winning streak since its premiere in Venice’s Horizons sidebar. Mubarak’s debut feature has collected around 10 awards globally within three months, including best film honours from Tokyo Filmex, Adelaide and Singapore as well as best screenplay prizes from the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and Festival Film Indonesia.
Makbul Mubarak’s Autobiography has won the top prize – the Golden Hanoman – at the closing night of Indonesia’s Jogja-netpac Asian Film Festival (Jaff). Lola Amaria’s documentary The Exiles (Eksil) picked up the best film prize from the Indonesian Screen Awards.
Indonesian drama Autobiography has been on a winning streak since its premiere in Venice’s Horizons sidebar. Mubarak’s debut feature has collected around 10 awards globally within three months, including best film honours from Tokyo Filmex, Adelaide and Singapore as well as best screenplay prizes from the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and Festival Film Indonesia.
- 12/6/2022
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
The festival aims to be a showcase for emerging Southeast Asian filmmaking talent.
The BaliMakarya Film Festival, which will run from October 16-21 in popular Indonesian tourist destination Bali, is set to expand into a regional event with a strong focus on Southeast Asian cinema.
It is one of four film festivals due to take place in Indonesia over the next two months, reflecting the vibrant film culture in the vast country.
Last year, the inaugural BaliMakarya festival was held online only with just a national competition for short films. This year, the second edition has added three competitions for Southeast Asian features,...
The BaliMakarya Film Festival, which will run from October 16-21 in popular Indonesian tourist destination Bali, is set to expand into a regional event with a strong focus on Southeast Asian cinema.
It is one of four film festivals due to take place in Indonesia over the next two months, reflecting the vibrant film culture in the vast country.
Last year, the inaugural BaliMakarya festival was held online only with just a national competition for short films. This year, the second edition has added three competitions for Southeast Asian features,...
- 9/21/2022
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
Asian Cinerama — Hong Kong Focus runs for 4 days — Thursday 15 – Sunday 18 September at Plaza Indonesia Xxi, Jakarta and presents six (6) current productions by promising and established Hong Kong filmmakers in a variety of genres. Asian Cinerama is the first collaborative event on the Road to Balinale 2023.
Asian Film Awards Academy (Afaa) together with Bali International Film Festival (Balinale) and supported by Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) and Film Development Fund (Fdf), will open with a premiere screening of Shadows directed by Glenn Chan. The film has been hailed as ‘one of the best films of the year’. The film’s producer and scriptwriter, Mani Man, will hold a post-screening Q&a and conduct a Filmmaking Seminar hosted by Binus University, Jakarta. The live event will also be broadcast virtually.
“We are pleased to have Mani Man, producer and scriptwriter to open the Asian Cinerama program with her film Shadows and conduct a...
Asian Film Awards Academy (Afaa) together with Bali International Film Festival (Balinale) and supported by Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) and Film Development Fund (Fdf), will open with a premiere screening of Shadows directed by Glenn Chan. The film has been hailed as ‘one of the best films of the year’. The film’s producer and scriptwriter, Mani Man, will hold a post-screening Q&a and conduct a Filmmaking Seminar hosted by Binus University, Jakarta. The live event will also be broadcast virtually.
“We are pleased to have Mani Man, producer and scriptwriter to open the Asian Cinerama program with her film Shadows and conduct a...
- 9/15/2022
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Upon its initial release in late 2018, Indonesian arthouse director Garin Nugroho’s “Memories Of My Body” made, to understate things, quite the splash. A story revolving around a gay teenager embracing his sexuality through a combination of dance and crossdressing was always going to be controversial in the typically heavily conservative and homophobic authority in Indonesia, but the response from Indonesia has been particularly polarizing. On one hand, the film has received stellar reviews from local and international critics alike (qualifying for many international festivals and being Indonesia’s submission for best foreign-language film at the 92nd Academy Awards), as well as positive coverage by local media such as CNN Indonesia. On the other hand, the film was the subject of a colossal backlash and censorship from the Indo government and a portion of Indo’s conservative demographic, resulting in petitions and protests due to its LGBTQ content, and subsequent near-nationwide banning of the film.
- 7/20/2021
- by Luke Georgiades
- AsianMoviePulse
Indonesia has picked Joko Anwar’s gory but stylish horror film Impetigore to represent the country in the 2021 Oscar race in the international feature category.
The selection was unveiled earlier this week by the Indonesian Academy Awards Selection Committee, and promoted by Anwar on Twitter. “Hopefully this film can be a good representation and raise the international audiences’ interest in Indonesian films,” the director said in a statement.
Impetigore (titled, Perempuan Tanah Jahanam in Indonesian) premiered at Sundance in January and was picked up by Shudder, where it is streaming exclusively.
Indonesian arthouse director Garin Nugroho, who heads the country’...
The selection was unveiled earlier this week by the Indonesian Academy Awards Selection Committee, and promoted by Anwar on Twitter. “Hopefully this film can be a good representation and raise the international audiences’ interest in Indonesian films,” the director said in a statement.
Impetigore (titled, Perempuan Tanah Jahanam in Indonesian) premiered at Sundance in January and was picked up by Shudder, where it is streaming exclusively.
Indonesian arthouse director Garin Nugroho, who heads the country’...
- 11/13/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Indonesia has picked Joko Anwar’s gory but stylish horror film Impetigore to represent the country in the 2021 Oscar race in the international feature category.
The selection was unveiled earlier this week by the Indonesian Academy Awards Selection Committee, and promoted by Anwar on Twitter. “Hopefully this film can be a good representation and raise the international audiences’ interest in Indonesian films,” the director said in a statement.
Impetigore (titled, Perempuan Tanah Jahanam in Indonesian) premiered at Sundance in January and was picked up by Shudder, where it is streaming exclusively.
Indonesian arthouse director Garin Nugroho, who heads the country’...
The selection was unveiled earlier this week by the Indonesian Academy Awards Selection Committee, and promoted by Anwar on Twitter. “Hopefully this film can be a good representation and raise the international audiences’ interest in Indonesian films,” the director said in a statement.
Impetigore (titled, Perempuan Tanah Jahanam in Indonesian) premiered at Sundance in January and was picked up by Shudder, where it is streaming exclusively.
Indonesian arthouse director Garin Nugroho, who heads the country’...
- 11/13/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Creepy horror film “Impetigore” by hotshot director Joko Anwar has been selected by Indonesia as its national representative in the Academy Awards’ best international feature film category.
The news was announced by the Indonesian Academy Awards Selection Committee on Tuesday. Anwar quickly retweeted the information, adding: “Hopefully this film can be a good representation and raise the international audiences’ interest in Indonesian films.”
The film, which premiered at the Sundance festival in January this year, tells the story of two women who are not making a great success of big city life, and who return to their home village. While promised an inheritance there, they encounter numerous strange events.
“Impetigore” stars Marissa Anita, Tara Basro, Christine Hakim and Asmara Abigail, who was last year named as an Asian Star Up Next by Variety and the International Film Festival and Awards Macao. The film is handled in the U.S. by Shudder.
The news was announced by the Indonesian Academy Awards Selection Committee on Tuesday. Anwar quickly retweeted the information, adding: “Hopefully this film can be a good representation and raise the international audiences’ interest in Indonesian films.”
The film, which premiered at the Sundance festival in January this year, tells the story of two women who are not making a great success of big city life, and who return to their home village. While promised an inheritance there, they encounter numerous strange events.
“Impetigore” stars Marissa Anita, Tara Basro, Christine Hakim and Asmara Abigail, who was last year named as an Asian Star Up Next by Variety and the International Film Festival and Awards Macao. The film is handled in the U.S. by Shudder.
- 11/12/2020
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The previously postponed Queer East Film Festival returns to cinemas across the UK with an additional seven films added to the original programme this October. Reimagined as a season-long showcase, the festival’s in-person cinema screenings will now go beyond London to include Manchester, Nottingham and Bristol, as well as offer UK-wide virtual screenings for audiences to enjoy at home.
Queer East is a celebration of queer storytelling and activism in East and Southeast Asia and aims to uplift and amplify the voices of those marginalised in the LGBTQ+ community. Spanning over 50 years of filmmaking, the first edition of Queer East is a mix of classic retrospectives and new releases, to explore how culture, law, history, and social norms have affected and built the current queer Asian landscape.
Festival Director and Programmer of Queer East, Yi Wang says:
“Global events this year have yet again reminded us of the importance of reflecting on equalities.
Queer East is a celebration of queer storytelling and activism in East and Southeast Asia and aims to uplift and amplify the voices of those marginalised in the LGBTQ+ community. Spanning over 50 years of filmmaking, the first edition of Queer East is a mix of classic retrospectives and new releases, to explore how culture, law, history, and social norms have affected and built the current queer Asian landscape.
Festival Director and Programmer of Queer East, Yi Wang says:
“Global events this year have yet again reminded us of the importance of reflecting on equalities.
- 10/7/2020
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Screening of Brillante Mendoza’s The Masseur marks centenary of cinema in the Philippines
Locarno’s Open Doors programme, aimed at supporting independent cinema in the Global South and East, has unveiled its screening selections for this year’s hybrid edition of its parent event.
Locarno was forced to cancel in April due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It will instead unfold mainly online under the banner of ’Locarno 2020 – For the Future of Films’, with a compact programme of physical theatrical screenings in situ during its original dates of August 5 to 15.
Open Doors, which is in the second-year of a three-year...
Locarno’s Open Doors programme, aimed at supporting independent cinema in the Global South and East, has unveiled its screening selections for this year’s hybrid edition of its parent event.
Locarno was forced to cancel in April due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It will instead unfold mainly online under the banner of ’Locarno 2020 – For the Future of Films’, with a compact programme of physical theatrical screenings in situ during its original dates of August 5 to 15.
Open Doors, which is in the second-year of a three-year...
- 7/16/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦69¦
- ScreenDaily
The full programme for the first Queer East Film Festival is announced. The curated series of screenings across London, with accompanying panel events, will explore identity, religion, family, adulthood and politics through queer relationships on screen, specifically from East and Southeast Asia.
Many have seen the significant progress of Lgbtq + rights across the world, but progress in Asia has been mixed. The festival invites everyone in the UK to be part of the discussion and celebrate diverse identities, cultures, and heritages of Asian and Asian diasporic communities who’ve often been excluded from mainstream discourse.
The programme is a mix of classic films and new releases, exploring how culture, law, history, and social norms have affected and built the current Asian queer landscape over 50 years of cinema.
Twenty-nine films, including 6 UK Premieres and 2 London Premieres, from 13 countries across Asia will be screened in cinemas across the capital to foster and...
Many have seen the significant progress of Lgbtq + rights across the world, but progress in Asia has been mixed. The festival invites everyone in the UK to be part of the discussion and celebrate diverse identities, cultures, and heritages of Asian and Asian diasporic communities who’ve often been excluded from mainstream discourse.
The programme is a mix of classic films and new releases, exploring how culture, law, history, and social norms have affected and built the current Asian queer landscape over 50 years of cinema.
Twenty-nine films, including 6 UK Premieres and 2 London Premieres, from 13 countries across Asia will be screened in cinemas across the capital to foster and...
- 3/15/2020
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
For most awards observers, the Asian Oscars race narrative in the international feature category begins and ends with Bong Joon Ho’s South Korean contender “Parasite.” That said, there are other notable submissions from around the continent that might spring a surprise or two.
The deliciously surgical dissection of Korean society that is “Parasite” has rightly won acclaim and awards around the planet, beginning with its unanimous Palme d’Or victory at Cannes. Neon is distributing the film in the U.S. and its impressive box office will do the film’s prospects no harm. A nom seems certain.
Tiny Singapore has been punching well above its weight in recent years and this year’s submission from the country, Yeo Siew Hua’s “A Land Imagined,” has been garlanded with awards since it exploded onto the global festival circuit with three trophies at Locarno, including the Golden Leopard, in 2018. The...
The deliciously surgical dissection of Korean society that is “Parasite” has rightly won acclaim and awards around the planet, beginning with its unanimous Palme d’Or victory at Cannes. Neon is distributing the film in the U.S. and its impressive box office will do the film’s prospects no harm. A nom seems certain.
Tiny Singapore has been punching well above its weight in recent years and this year’s submission from the country, Yeo Siew Hua’s “A Land Imagined,” has been garlanded with awards since it exploded onto the global festival circuit with three trophies at Locarno, including the Golden Leopard, in 2018. The...
- 12/5/2019
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
‘Buoyancy’.
Writer-director Rodd Rathjen’s Buoyancy won Best Youth Feature Film at last night’s Asia Pacific Screen Awards (Apsa) in Brisbane.
The award comes just as Rathjen returns to Australia from an Oscar campaign in The States; Buoyancy is Australia’s submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.
Produced by Causeway Films’ Sam Jennings and Kristina Ceyton with Rita Walsh, Buoyancy details the story of a 14-year old Cambodian boy (Sarm Heng) who heads to Thailand search of a better life, only to find himself trafficked and enslaved on a fishing trawler.
The story of Buoyancy is inspired by real events, and informed by more than 50 interviews Rathjen conducted with people who had been trafficked onto fishing boats, as well as interviews with local communities, former ship captains and NGOs, and other research. An estimated 200,000 men and boys are thought to be in slavery and forced...
Writer-director Rodd Rathjen’s Buoyancy won Best Youth Feature Film at last night’s Asia Pacific Screen Awards (Apsa) in Brisbane.
The award comes just as Rathjen returns to Australia from an Oscar campaign in The States; Buoyancy is Australia’s submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.
Produced by Causeway Films’ Sam Jennings and Kristina Ceyton with Rita Walsh, Buoyancy details the story of a 14-year old Cambodian boy (Sarm Heng) who heads to Thailand search of a better life, only to find himself trafficked and enslaved on a fishing trawler.
The story of Buoyancy is inspired by real events, and informed by more than 50 interviews Rathjen conducted with people who had been trafficked onto fishing boats, as well as interviews with local communities, former ship captains and NGOs, and other research. An estimated 200,000 men and boys are thought to be in slavery and forced...
- 11/22/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Indonesian director Garin Nugroho knew he was courting controversy from the moment he started work on the script for Memories of My Body. What he hadn't counted on was that the passions his film stirred would follow him wherever he went.
"I thought there would be some noise but it might go away," says Nugroho. "Now it seems I just can't escape."
Inspired by the real life of famed Indonesian dancer Rianto, Memories of My Body follows an abandoned young boy as he searches for a sense of identity, alone at first and later as ...
"I thought there would be some noise but it might go away," says Nugroho. "Now it seems I just can't escape."
Inspired by the real life of famed Indonesian dancer Rianto, Memories of My Body follows an abandoned young boy as he searches for a sense of identity, alone at first and later as ...
- 11/21/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Indonesian director Garin Nugroho knew he was courting controversy from the moment he started work on the script for Memories of My Body. What he hadn't counted on was that the passions his film stirred would follow him wherever he went.
"I thought there would be some noise but it might go away," says Nugroho. "Now it seems I just can't escape."
Inspired by the real life of famed Indonesian dancer Rianto, Memories of My Body follows an abandoned young boy as he searches for a sense of identity, alone at first and later as ...
"I thought there would be some noise but it might go away," says Nugroho. "Now it seems I just can't escape."
Inspired by the real life of famed Indonesian dancer Rianto, Memories of My Body follows an abandoned young boy as he searches for a sense of identity, alone at first and later as ...
- 11/21/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
First two projects in local-language pipeline are The Villa, The Betrayal.
Fledgling Singapore and Indonesia-based finance, production and distribution company United Media Asia (Uma) has announced an exclusive first-look deal with Southeast Asian media conglomerate, Kompas Gramedia.
The partnership provides Uma with access to Kompas Gramedia’s network, which includes 150 brands of print, online and broadcast media, 115 retail stores, 18 regional newspapers, and seven publishing houses that is said to represent a combined library of more than 100,000 works of IP with a reach of 150m people.
The deal comes as Uma, backed by private Indonesian investors who have put money into an investment fund for the company,...
Fledgling Singapore and Indonesia-based finance, production and distribution company United Media Asia (Uma) has announced an exclusive first-look deal with Southeast Asian media conglomerate, Kompas Gramedia.
The partnership provides Uma with access to Kompas Gramedia’s network, which includes 150 brands of print, online and broadcast media, 115 retail stores, 18 regional newspapers, and seven publishing houses that is said to represent a combined library of more than 100,000 works of IP with a reach of 150m people.
The deal comes as Uma, backed by private Indonesian investors who have put money into an investment fund for the company,...
- 11/15/2019
- by 14¦Screen staff¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Newly formed content finance, production and distribution company United Media Asia (Uma) has signed an exclusive first-look deal with Southeast Asia’s largest media conglomerate, Kompas Gramedia.
The team-up provides Uma with access to Kompas Gramedia’s extensive media network, including; 150 brands of print, online and broadcast media, 115 retail stores, 18 regional newspapers and seven publishing houses that represent a collective library of over 100K works of IP, with a combined reach of 150 million people, in one of the globe’s booming entertainment markets.
“We are excited to be working alongside global companies with the scale and influence of Kompas Gramedia and CAA. With more than 30 years of combined industry experience, Uma’s mission is to empower local creatives and creators, by providing them with the means to tell their stories at a world class level and with the ongoing support of CAA, share them with the region and the world. This is...
The team-up provides Uma with access to Kompas Gramedia’s extensive media network, including; 150 brands of print, online and broadcast media, 115 retail stores, 18 regional newspapers and seven publishing houses that represent a collective library of over 100K works of IP, with a combined reach of 150 million people, in one of the globe’s booming entertainment markets.
“We are excited to be working alongside global companies with the scale and influence of Kompas Gramedia and CAA. With more than 30 years of combined industry experience, Uma’s mission is to empower local creatives and creators, by providing them with the means to tell their stories at a world class level and with the ongoing support of CAA, share them with the region and the world. This is...
- 11/15/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Newly-formed content finance, production and distribution company United Media Asia has struck a first look deal, brokered by Hollywood talent agency CAA, with Indonesian media giant Kompas Gramedia. United has also unveiled its first two feature films.
The partnership provides Uma with access to Kompas Gramedia’s media network and its 100,000 pieces of intellectual property, from which it may develop film and TV content. Kompass is a newspapers, magazines and books publisher established 50 years ago. It also has diversified into regional radio broadcast operation and controls Indonesia’s TV7 television channel.
Uma, which is Singapore- and Indonesia-based, and which claims a “substantial content investment fund,” is headed by Michy Gustavia, a former actress who was until recently Svp of acquisitions and development at Go-Jek, an Indonesian tech unicorn with roots in transport, but which has recently branched into streaming video.
“Uma’s mission is to empower local creatives and creators, by...
The partnership provides Uma with access to Kompas Gramedia’s media network and its 100,000 pieces of intellectual property, from which it may develop film and TV content. Kompass is a newspapers, magazines and books publisher established 50 years ago. It also has diversified into regional radio broadcast operation and controls Indonesia’s TV7 television channel.
Uma, which is Singapore- and Indonesia-based, and which claims a “substantial content investment fund,” is headed by Michy Gustavia, a former actress who was until recently Svp of acquisitions and development at Go-Jek, an Indonesian tech unicorn with roots in transport, but which has recently branched into streaming video.
“Uma’s mission is to empower local creatives and creators, by...
- 11/15/2019
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Film financier, producer and distributor United Media Asia has signed an exclusive first-look deal with Indonesian media giant Kompas Gramedia.
United Media Asia, repped by CAA and backed by an investment fund, will leverage Kompas Gramedia's media network, including radio and TV channels and print, led by the Kompas newspaper, to expand local-language South East Asian content production for global distribution.
United Media Asia, launched last year, has added to its production slate The Villa, a local-language horror film centered on Indonesia's tumultuous colonial past and starring Osric Chau. Garin Nugroho, whose coming-of-age drama Memories of My Body was ...
United Media Asia, repped by CAA and backed by an investment fund, will leverage Kompas Gramedia's media network, including radio and TV channels and print, led by the Kompas newspaper, to expand local-language South East Asian content production for global distribution.
United Media Asia, launched last year, has added to its production slate The Villa, a local-language horror film centered on Indonesia's tumultuous colonial past and starring Osric Chau. Garin Nugroho, whose coming-of-age drama Memories of My Body was ...
- 11/14/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Film financier, producer and distributor United Media Asia has signed an exclusive first-look deal with Indonesian media giant Kompas Gramedia.
United Media Asia, repped by CAA and backed by an investment fund, will leverage Kompas Gramedia's media network, including radio and TV channels and print, led by the Kompas newspaper, to expand local-language South East Asian content production for global distribution.
United Media Asia, launched last year, has added to its production slate The Villa, a local-language horror film centered on Indonesia's tumultuous colonial past and starring Osric Chau. Garin Nugroho, whose coming-of-age drama Memories of My Body was ...
United Media Asia, repped by CAA and backed by an investment fund, will leverage Kompas Gramedia's media network, including radio and TV channels and print, led by the Kompas newspaper, to expand local-language South East Asian content production for global distribution.
United Media Asia, launched last year, has added to its production slate The Villa, a local-language horror film centered on Indonesia's tumultuous colonial past and starring Osric Chau. Garin Nugroho, whose coming-of-age drama Memories of My Body was ...
- 11/14/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Asia Pacific Screen Forum is an influential network where strategic and creative decisions are made, projects are championed, deals are done, and collaborations are born.
The Australian industry is encouraged to meet and connect with this year’s nominees and Apsa International Jury and panel members at the Asia Pacific Screen Forum.
Events include a wide selection of focussed discussions on the filmmaking process, social networking opportunities to expand your connections.
The Asia Pacific Screen Forum is delighted with key partners to present the following special events within the program;
The Directors Chair with Adilkhan Yerzhanov | 18 November Asia Pacific Screen Forum Brunch: Cultural Diversity and Freedom of Expression in the Asia Pacific | 20 November
Speakers:
Efa Deputy Chairman Mikey Downey (United Kingdom), winner of 2017 Cultural Diversity Award for Dede Director Garin Nugroho (Indonesia), winner of the 2018 Cultural Diversity Award for Memories of my Body Director Luibov Borisova (Russian Federation), nominee...
The Australian industry is encouraged to meet and connect with this year’s nominees and Apsa International Jury and panel members at the Asia Pacific Screen Forum.
Events include a wide selection of focussed discussions on the filmmaking process, social networking opportunities to expand your connections.
The Asia Pacific Screen Forum is delighted with key partners to present the following special events within the program;
The Directors Chair with Adilkhan Yerzhanov | 18 November Asia Pacific Screen Forum Brunch: Cultural Diversity and Freedom of Expression in the Asia Pacific | 20 November
Speakers:
Efa Deputy Chairman Mikey Downey (United Kingdom), winner of 2017 Cultural Diversity Award for Dede Director Garin Nugroho (Indonesia), winner of the 2018 Cultural Diversity Award for Memories of my Body Director Luibov Borisova (Russian Federation), nominee...
- 10/31/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Every year since its creation in 1956, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) invites the film industries of various countries to submit their best film for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The award is presented annually by the Academy to a feature-length motion picture produced outside the United States that contains primarily non-English dialogue and that was released theatrically in their respective countries between 1 October 2018 and 30 September 2019.
Here are the Asian Submissions for Best Foreign Language Film. There are some excellent movies in this bunch and we have seen and reviewed already some of them.
Afghanistan
“Hava, Maryam, Ayesha” by Sahraa Karimi
Hava, Maryam, Ayesha
Armenia
“Lengthy Night” by Edgar Baghdasaryan
Lenghty Night
Bangladesh
“Alpha” by Nasiruddin Yousuff
Alpha
Cambodia
“In The Life of Music” by Caylee So and Sok Visal
In The Life of Music
China
“Ne Zha” by Jiaozi
Ne Zha
Georgia
“Shindisi...
Here are the Asian Submissions for Best Foreign Language Film. There are some excellent movies in this bunch and we have seen and reviewed already some of them.
Afghanistan
“Hava, Maryam, Ayesha” by Sahraa Karimi
Hava, Maryam, Ayesha
Armenia
“Lengthy Night” by Edgar Baghdasaryan
Lenghty Night
Bangladesh
“Alpha” by Nasiruddin Yousuff
Alpha
Cambodia
“In The Life of Music” by Caylee So and Sok Visal
In The Life of Music
China
“Ne Zha” by Jiaozi
Ne Zha
Georgia
“Shindisi...
- 10/10/2019
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
A record 93 countries submitted entries in the International Feature Film race at the 2020 Oscars. That is up by six from last year,when the category was still called Best Foreign-Language Film, and eclipses the record 92 submissions in 2018. The nations represented ranged from A (Albania) to V (Vietnam). Predicting the eventual five Oscar nominees is made difficult by the two-step process.
First, the several hundred academy members of the Foreign-Language Film screening committee are required to watch a number of the submissions (upwards of a dozen) over a two-month period that ends in mid December. They will rate them from 6 to 10 and their top six vote-getters make it to the next round, as will three films added by the 20 members of the executive committee.
Those nine semi-finalists will be screened three per day beginning in early January by select committee members in Gotham, Hollywood, London and San Francisco. These 40 folks will...
First, the several hundred academy members of the Foreign-Language Film screening committee are required to watch a number of the submissions (upwards of a dozen) over a two-month period that ends in mid December. They will rate them from 6 to 10 and their top six vote-getters make it to the next round, as will three films added by the 20 members of the executive committee.
Those nine semi-finalists will be screened three per day beginning in early January by select committee members in Gotham, Hollywood, London and San Francisco. These 40 folks will...
- 10/7/2019
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Expanded shortlist of 10 films to be announced on December 16.
The Academy on Monday (7) confirmed that 93 countries have submitted films for consideration in the international feature film category for the 92nd Academy Awards.
Ghana, Nigeria and Uzbekistan are first-time entrants with Kwabena Gyansah’s Azali, Genevieve Nnaji’s Lionheart, and Umid Khamdamov’s Hot Bread, respectively.
Earlier this year, the Academy board voted to rename the category formerly known as foreign language film, and expand the shortlist from nine to 10 films.
The shortlist will be announced on December 16. Nominations for the 92nd Oscars will be unveiled on January 13, 2020, and the Oscars...
The Academy on Monday (7) confirmed that 93 countries have submitted films for consideration in the international feature film category for the 92nd Academy Awards.
Ghana, Nigeria and Uzbekistan are first-time entrants with Kwabena Gyansah’s Azali, Genevieve Nnaji’s Lionheart, and Umid Khamdamov’s Hot Bread, respectively.
Earlier this year, the Academy board voted to rename the category formerly known as foreign language film, and expand the shortlist from nine to 10 films.
The shortlist will be announced on December 16. Nominations for the 92nd Oscars will be unveiled on January 13, 2020, and the Oscars...
- 10/7/2019
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
The 2020 foreign-language Oscar nominees will come from submissions from 93 countries, up from last year’s 87, and breaking the record 92 from 2017. A contender for the renamed Best International Feature must be a feature-length motion picture (more than 40 minutes) produced outside the United States with a predominantly non-English dialogue track.
Ghana, Nigeria, and Uzbekistan are first-time entrants, but Uganda did not qualify. China (Yu Yang’s “Ne Zha”) and Senegal (Mati Diop’s “Atlantics”) submitted their films under the wire on the deadline of October 1.
Earlier this year, the Academy’s Board of Governors voted not only to rename the Foreign Language Film category, but to expand the shortlist from nine films to 10.
The 2019 submissions, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:
Albania, “The Delegation,” Bujar Alimani, director;
Algeria, “Papicha,” Mounia Meddour, director;
Argentina, “Heroic Losers,” Sebastián Borensztein, director;
Armenia, “Lengthy Night,” Edgar Baghdasaryan, director;
Australia, “Buoyancy,” Rodd Rathjen, director;
Austria, “Joy,...
Ghana, Nigeria, and Uzbekistan are first-time entrants, but Uganda did not qualify. China (Yu Yang’s “Ne Zha”) and Senegal (Mati Diop’s “Atlantics”) submitted their films under the wire on the deadline of October 1.
Earlier this year, the Academy’s Board of Governors voted not only to rename the Foreign Language Film category, but to expand the shortlist from nine films to 10.
The 2019 submissions, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:
Albania, “The Delegation,” Bujar Alimani, director;
Algeria, “Papicha,” Mounia Meddour, director;
Argentina, “Heroic Losers,” Sebastián Borensztein, director;
Armenia, “Lengthy Night,” Edgar Baghdasaryan, director;
Australia, “Buoyancy,” Rodd Rathjen, director;
Austria, “Joy,...
- 10/7/2019
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
The 2020 foreign-language Oscar nominees will come from submissions from 93 countries, up from last year’s 87, and breaking the record 92 from 2017. A contender for the renamed Best International Feature must be a feature-length motion picture (more than 40 minutes) produced outside the United States with a predominantly non-English dialogue track.
Ghana, Nigeria, and Uzbekistan are first-time entrants, but Uganda did not qualify. China (Yu Yang’s “Ne Zha”) and Senegal (Mati Diop’s “Atlantics”) submitted their films under the wire on the deadline of October 1.
Earlier this year, the Academy’s Board of Governors voted not only to rename the Foreign Language Film category, but to expand the shortlist from nine films to 10.
The 2019 submissions, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:
Albania, “The Delegation,” Bujar Alimani, director;
Algeria, “Papicha,” Mounia Meddour, director;
Argentina, “Heroic Losers,” Sebastián Borensztein, director;
Armenia, “Lengthy Night,” Edgar Baghdasaryan, director;
Australia, “Buoyancy,” Rodd Rathjen, director;
Austria, “Joy,...
Ghana, Nigeria, and Uzbekistan are first-time entrants, but Uganda did not qualify. China (Yu Yang’s “Ne Zha”) and Senegal (Mati Diop’s “Atlantics”) submitted their films under the wire on the deadline of October 1.
Earlier this year, the Academy’s Board of Governors voted not only to rename the Foreign Language Film category, but to expand the shortlist from nine films to 10.
The 2019 submissions, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:
Albania, “The Delegation,” Bujar Alimani, director;
Algeria, “Papicha,” Mounia Meddour, director;
Argentina, “Heroic Losers,” Sebastián Borensztein, director;
Armenia, “Lengthy Night,” Edgar Baghdasaryan, director;
Australia, “Buoyancy,” Rodd Rathjen, director;
Austria, “Joy,...
- 10/7/2019
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released the full list of countries that have submitted a pic for consideration for the new International Feature Film Oscar category.
Here are the 93 nations and their hopefuls, in alphabetical order:
Albania, The Delegation, Bujar Alimani, director;
Algeria, Papicha, Mounia Meddour, director;
Argentina, Heroic Losers, Sebastián Borensztein, director;
Armenia, Lengthy Night, Edgar Baghdasaryan, director;
Australia, Buoyancy, Rodd Rathjen, director;
Austria, Joy, Sudabeh Mortezai, director;
Bangladesh, Alpha, Nasiruddin Yousuff, director;
Belarus, Debut, Anastasiya Miroshnichenko, director;
Belgium, Our Mothers, César Díaz, director;
Bolivia, I Miss You, Rodrigo Bellott, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, The Son, Ines Tanovic, director;
Brazil, Invisible Life, Karim Aïnouz, director;
Bulgaria, Ága, Milko Lazarov, director;
Cambodia, In the Life of Music, Caylee So, Sok Visal, directors;
Canada, Antigone, Sophie Deraspe, director;
Chile, Spider, Andrés Wood, director;
China, Ne Zha, Yu Yang, director;
Colombia, Monos, Alejandro Landes, director;
Costa Rica, The Awakening of the Ants,...
Here are the 93 nations and their hopefuls, in alphabetical order:
Albania, The Delegation, Bujar Alimani, director;
Algeria, Papicha, Mounia Meddour, director;
Argentina, Heroic Losers, Sebastián Borensztein, director;
Armenia, Lengthy Night, Edgar Baghdasaryan, director;
Australia, Buoyancy, Rodd Rathjen, director;
Austria, Joy, Sudabeh Mortezai, director;
Bangladesh, Alpha, Nasiruddin Yousuff, director;
Belarus, Debut, Anastasiya Miroshnichenko, director;
Belgium, Our Mothers, César Díaz, director;
Bolivia, I Miss You, Rodrigo Bellott, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, The Son, Ines Tanovic, director;
Brazil, Invisible Life, Karim Aïnouz, director;
Bulgaria, Ága, Milko Lazarov, director;
Cambodia, In the Life of Music, Caylee So, Sok Visal, directors;
Canada, Antigone, Sophie Deraspe, director;
Chile, Spider, Andrés Wood, director;
China, Ne Zha, Yu Yang, director;
Colombia, Monos, Alejandro Landes, director;
Costa Rica, The Awakening of the Ants,...
- 10/7/2019
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Melaka, 29 September – The 2019 SeaShorts Film Festival wrapped on Sunday with a ceremony at Panggung Bangsawan Melaka, handing out eight awards totalling RM40,000 in prizes.
Ballad of Blood and Two White Buckets picked up the coveted best of the fest SeaShorts Award. In this visceral drama by Indonesian director Yosep Anggi Noen, shifts in religious beliefs imperil the livelihood of a couple who eke out a marginal existence selling a foodstuff that some see as nutritious and others as haram.
Amanda Nell Eu came out tops among her Malaysian peers with Vinegar Baths collecting the Next New Wave Award. Her idiosyncratic take on a vampire folklore places the feared fiend in the modern day as a harried nurse manning a maternity ward.
Choosing the winners out of a 26-strong shortlist was no easy feat, and on this occasion the decision laid on the shoulders of the who’s who of industry players.
Ballad of Blood and Two White Buckets picked up the coveted best of the fest SeaShorts Award. In this visceral drama by Indonesian director Yosep Anggi Noen, shifts in religious beliefs imperil the livelihood of a couple who eke out a marginal existence selling a foodstuff that some see as nutritious and others as haram.
Amanda Nell Eu came out tops among her Malaysian peers with Vinegar Baths collecting the Next New Wave Award. Her idiosyncratic take on a vampire folklore places the feared fiend in the modern day as a harried nurse manning a maternity ward.
Choosing the winners out of a 26-strong shortlist was no easy feat, and on this occasion the decision laid on the shoulders of the who’s who of industry players.
- 9/30/2019
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
The annual celebration of the short film provides a window on Southeast Asian cinema
Melaka, 25 September – The SeaShorts Film Festival 2019 kicked off its five-day run in Melaka on Wednesday with an opening night showing of Ten Years Thailand and an appearance by one of the film’s directors, Aditya Assarat.
The anthology features four stories by different Thai filmmakers, each envisioning their homeland a decade onwards from the military coup of 2014. Aditya joined in a question and answer session with his Malaysian counterpart, Amir Muhammad.
The event served as a taste of the Festival to come, which continues through to Sunday. Now in its third edition, the annual celebration of short films from Southeast Asia and beyond promises to be a diverse treat for movie buffs.
In the competition section, a shortlist of 26 entries from more than 350 submitted will be in the running for the top two prizes. Venice Film...
Melaka, 25 September – The SeaShorts Film Festival 2019 kicked off its five-day run in Melaka on Wednesday with an opening night showing of Ten Years Thailand and an appearance by one of the film’s directors, Aditya Assarat.
The anthology features four stories by different Thai filmmakers, each envisioning their homeland a decade onwards from the military coup of 2014. Aditya joined in a question and answer session with his Malaysian counterpart, Amir Muhammad.
The event served as a taste of the Festival to come, which continues through to Sunday. Now in its third edition, the annual celebration of short films from Southeast Asia and beyond promises to be a diverse treat for movie buffs.
In the competition section, a shortlist of 26 entries from more than 350 submitted will be in the running for the top two prizes. Venice Film...
- 9/27/2019
- by tyriter
- AsianMoviePulse
Born in Jakarta, Mouly Surya is considered one of the most promising female filmmakers in Indonesia. After graduating from Swinburne University, Melbourne with a BA in Media and Literature, Surya obtained an Ma in Film and Television from Bond University, Queensland. In addition to making films, she also taught a directing class in Jakarta. Her debut film, “Fiksi”, won numerous awards including Best Director at Jiffest 2008. It premiered internationally at the 13th Busan International Film Festival.
“What they don’t talk about when they talk about love” (2013) was her second feature. Before its theatrical run in Indonesia, the film screened at various international film festivals including the Sundance Ff, the Hawaii Ff and Karlovy Vary Ff, among others. The film received the Netpac Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in the Netherlands, was nominated for Best Feature Film at the 2013 Maya Awards, and was also nominated for Favorite Film at the 2014 Indonesian Movie Awards.
“What they don’t talk about when they talk about love” (2013) was her second feature. Before its theatrical run in Indonesia, the film screened at various international film festivals including the Sundance Ff, the Hawaii Ff and Karlovy Vary Ff, among others. The film received the Netpac Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in the Netherlands, was nominated for Best Feature Film at the 2013 Maya Awards, and was also nominated for Favorite Film at the 2014 Indonesian Movie Awards.
- 9/25/2019
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
“Memories of My Body,” directed by Garin Nugroho, has been selected to represent Indonesia at the Academy Awards in the international feature film category (previously best foreign-language film). The announcement was made Tuesday by actress Christine Hakim representing the Indonesian Film Selection Committee.
The fact-based film depicts the story of a young man from a dance troupe that performs Lengger Lanang, a folk dance from central Java usually performed in pairs, with men often taking both male and female roles. It is based on the real story of Rianto, a dancer who was abused as a child, explored masculinity and femininity while growing up, and endured traumatic experiences, discrimination and violence. Rianto himself plays the dancer as an adult and narrates the film.
It has proved deeply controversial with Islamic religious groups, which labeled it “deviant” and “promoting Lgbt values.” It was banned in five provinces.
Despite that stigma, the...
The fact-based film depicts the story of a young man from a dance troupe that performs Lengger Lanang, a folk dance from central Java usually performed in pairs, with men often taking both male and female roles. It is based on the real story of Rianto, a dancer who was abused as a child, explored masculinity and femininity while growing up, and endured traumatic experiences, discrimination and violence. Rianto himself plays the dancer as an adult and narrates the film.
It has proved deeply controversial with Islamic religious groups, which labeled it “deviant” and “promoting Lgbt values.” It was banned in five provinces.
Despite that stigma, the...
- 9/18/2019
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Indonesia has selected the controversial coming-of-age drama Memories of My Body as its submission for the international feature film category at the 2020 Oscars.
Garin Nugroho’s film follows the story of a young dancer coming to terms with the world around him, and with his own sexuality. The film was inspired by the life of the famed contemporary Indonesian dancer and actor Rianto, who plays the central character as an adult and also narrates the film.
It made its debut in Venice last year in the Horizon section, where it won the prize for best film, while it also ...
Garin Nugroho’s film follows the story of a young dancer coming to terms with the world around him, and with his own sexuality. The film was inspired by the life of the famed contemporary Indonesian dancer and actor Rianto, who plays the central character as an adult and also narrates the film.
It made its debut in Venice last year in the Horizon section, where it won the prize for best film, while it also ...
- 9/18/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Indonesia has selected the controversial coming-of-age drama Memories of My Body as its submission for the international feature film category at the 2020 Oscars.
Garin Nugroho’s film follows the story of a young dancer coming to terms with the world around him, and with his own sexuality. The film was inspired by the life of the famed contemporary Indonesian dancer and actor Rianto, who plays the central character as an adult and also narrates the film.
It made its debut in Venice last year in the Horizon section, where it won the prize for best film, while it also ...
Garin Nugroho’s film follows the story of a young dancer coming to terms with the world around him, and with his own sexuality. The film was inspired by the life of the famed contemporary Indonesian dancer and actor Rianto, who plays the central character as an adult and also narrates the film.
It made its debut in Venice last year in the Horizon section, where it won the prize for best film, while it also ...
- 9/18/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
SeaShorts Film Festival is pleased to announce the full Official Selection for its third edition held in Malacca this 25th to 29th September. Handpicked from more than 350 entries, this year’s line- up of contenders showcase the enormous depth and diversity of storytelling in Southeast Asian cinema.
Comprising two categories, the annual competition counts a veritable who’s who of industry players among thejury panel. Venice Film Festival Golden Lion winner Lav Diaz (Philippines) leads judging duties for the regional SeaShorts Award alongside actor-director Bront Palarae (Malaysia) and Asian Film Award-winning editor Lee Chatametikool (Thailand). Respected helmer Garin Nugroho (Indonesia), artist Sherman Ong (Malaysia), and rising filmmaker Shireen Seno (Philippines) meanwhile decide the Next New Wave Award, which goes to the best Malaysian effort.
Nominees stand the chance to walk away with the lion’s share of prizes including Panasonic Lumix GH5 4Kcameras, Aputure lighting equipment, Zoom field recorders, and Deity Microphones.
Comprising two categories, the annual competition counts a veritable who’s who of industry players among thejury panel. Venice Film Festival Golden Lion winner Lav Diaz (Philippines) leads judging duties for the regional SeaShorts Award alongside actor-director Bront Palarae (Malaysia) and Asian Film Award-winning editor Lee Chatametikool (Thailand). Respected helmer Garin Nugroho (Indonesia), artist Sherman Ong (Malaysia), and rising filmmaker Shireen Seno (Philippines) meanwhile decide the Next New Wave Award, which goes to the best Malaysian effort.
Nominees stand the chance to walk away with the lion’s share of prizes including Panasonic Lumix GH5 4Kcameras, Aputure lighting equipment, Zoom field recorders, and Deity Microphones.
- 8/3/2019
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
SeaShorts Film Festival is set to debut in Malacca this 25th to 29th September. Now in its third edition, the annual affair will host as usual a fresh line-up of works from emerging and established directorial talents in Southeast Asia and beyond for a celebration of short film.
An initiative of Next New Wave, visitors can expect a weeklong series of film screenings, forums, masterclasses, and other activities associated with movie production. SeaShorts’ diversity is evident in SExpress, a presentation of guest programmes specially curated to showcase the many local filmmaking scenes of the region. Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia are the ten countries in the spotlight.
The Festival will also once again see directors vying for glory in two competition categories. Venice Film Festival Golden Lion winner, Lav Diaz of the Philippines, heads the jury for the SeaShorts Award, which recognises Southeast Asian short films.
An initiative of Next New Wave, visitors can expect a weeklong series of film screenings, forums, masterclasses, and other activities associated with movie production. SeaShorts’ diversity is evident in SExpress, a presentation of guest programmes specially curated to showcase the many local filmmaking scenes of the region. Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia are the ten countries in the spotlight.
The Festival will also once again see directors vying for glory in two competition categories. Venice Film Festival Golden Lion winner, Lav Diaz of the Philippines, heads the jury for the SeaShorts Award, which recognises Southeast Asian short films.
- 7/17/2019
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Just in time for Pride Month, the winners for this year’s Inside Out Lgbt Film Festival were announced today in Toronto at the annual awards ceremony. Winners included Garin Nugroho for Memories of My Body which received the Inside Out Special Award for Innovation as well as Xiang Zi for A Dog Barking at the Moon for Best First Feature.
Other winners from the fest included Megan Wennberg for her film Drag Kids which received Best Canadian Feature while Audience Award winners included Samantha Lee’s Billie and Emma for Best Narrative Feature, Linda Goldstein Knowlton’s We Are Radical Monarchs for Best Documentary Feature and Jamie Dispirito’s Thrive for Best Short Film.
This was the third year for the festival’s annual Lgbtq Finance Forum and it has become an international home and incubator for Lgbt filmmakers, both emerging and established. They also awarded its annual “Pitch,...
Other winners from the fest included Megan Wennberg for her film Drag Kids which received Best Canadian Feature while Audience Award winners included Samantha Lee’s Billie and Emma for Best Narrative Feature, Linda Goldstein Knowlton’s We Are Radical Monarchs for Best Documentary Feature and Jamie Dispirito’s Thrive for Best Short Film.
This was the third year for the festival’s annual Lgbtq Finance Forum and it has become an international home and incubator for Lgbt filmmakers, both emerging and established. They also awarded its annual “Pitch,...
- 6/2/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Inside Out Toronto, Canada’s leading Lgbtq film festival, announced its full lineup for its 29th edition today, including news that the Taron Egerton-starring Elton biopic “Rocketman” will open the festival following its Cannes premiere. Mindy Kaling’s “Late Night” will close the festival, with Netflix’s update to “Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City” featured as a centerpiece presentation.
The festival also announced Thursday a new four-year partnership with Netflix in support of Lgbtq filmmakers in Canada. The strategic partnership will begin with the 2019 edition of the festival, which runs May 23 – June 2. Through Inside Out’s Lgbtq Film Financing Forum, the first of its kind in the world, the Netflix funds will be used to expand Inside Out’s professional development and mentorship programming to develop the next generation of Canadian creators and talent.
“Inside Out is committed to establishing itself as the home of Lgbtq filmmakers,...
The festival also announced Thursday a new four-year partnership with Netflix in support of Lgbtq filmmakers in Canada. The strategic partnership will begin with the 2019 edition of the festival, which runs May 23 – June 2. Through Inside Out’s Lgbtq Film Financing Forum, the first of its kind in the world, the Netflix funds will be used to expand Inside Out’s professional development and mentorship programming to develop the next generation of Canadian creators and talent.
“Inside Out is committed to establishing itself as the home of Lgbtq filmmakers,...
- 5/3/2019
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
mustUNESCO-awarded film banned in five provinces despite being cleared by Indonesian censor board.
Indonesian filmmaker Garin Nugroho’s Memories Of My Body has been banned in five provinces in Indonesia and is being attacked on social media by groups claiming that it spreads Lgbt propaganda.
The film, which opened on April 18, was given a 17+ rating by the Indonesian film censorship board, but has since been banned by officials in the provinces of Depok, Kubu Raya, Pontianak, Palembang and Riau.
Produced by Ifa Isfansyah’s Fourcolours Films, Memories Of My Body premiered at last year’s Venice film festival in the...
Indonesian filmmaker Garin Nugroho’s Memories Of My Body has been banned in five provinces in Indonesia and is being attacked on social media by groups claiming that it spreads Lgbt propaganda.
The film, which opened on April 18, was given a 17+ rating by the Indonesian film censorship board, but has since been banned by officials in the provinces of Depok, Kubu Raya, Pontianak, Palembang and Riau.
Produced by Ifa Isfansyah’s Fourcolours Films, Memories Of My Body premiered at last year’s Venice film festival in the...
- 5/3/2019
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
Muslim groups in Indonesia are calling for a ban on the film “Memories of My Body,” a drama from the country’s best-known art house director, Garin Nugroho. The groups say that the film is “sexually deviant” and promotes “Lgbt values.”
The film depicts the story of a young man from a dance troupe that performs Lengger Lanang, a folk dance from central Java that is usually performed in pairs, and in which men often take both male and female roles. It is based on the real story of Rianto, a dancer who was abused as a child, explored masculinity and femininity while growing up, and endured traumatic experiences, discrimination and violence. Rianto himself plays the dancer as an adult and narrates the film.
“Memories of My Body” premiered in the Venice Film Festival’s Horizon section, where it won the prize for best film. (It was also nominated for the Queer Lion prize.
The film depicts the story of a young man from a dance troupe that performs Lengger Lanang, a folk dance from central Java that is usually performed in pairs, and in which men often take both male and female roles. It is based on the real story of Rianto, a dancer who was abused as a child, explored masculinity and femininity while growing up, and endured traumatic experiences, discrimination and violence. Rianto himself plays the dancer as an adult and narrates the film.
“Memories of My Body” premiered in the Venice Film Festival’s Horizon section, where it won the prize for best film. (It was also nominated for the Queer Lion prize.
- 5/2/2019
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Film programs include one of the first lesbian Bollywood films (“Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga”), a film with the backdrop of 80’s Saigon and its Vietnamese folk opera (“Song Lang”) and an Indonesian culinary journey through film (“Aruna and her Palate”)
The special series “From The Claws of Darkness: Restoring Philippine Cinema” brings the second golden age of Philippine film to the big screen for audiences to enjoy once again, including “Moral,” “Himala,” and “Batch ‘81”and “Manila In The Claws of Light”
San Diego, California – March 26, 2019 – The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival (Sdaff) Spring Showcase, presented by Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) will be taking place on April 11-18 at the UltraStar Mission Valley. This year, a majority of the showcased films highlight South Asian and Southeast Asian stories.
There will also be a special collection of milestone Filipino films shown as a part of the...
The special series “From The Claws of Darkness: Restoring Philippine Cinema” brings the second golden age of Philippine film to the big screen for audiences to enjoy once again, including “Moral,” “Himala,” and “Batch ‘81”and “Manila In The Claws of Light”
San Diego, California – March 26, 2019 – The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival (Sdaff) Spring Showcase, presented by Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) will be taking place on April 11-18 at the UltraStar Mission Valley. This year, a majority of the showcased films highlight South Asian and Southeast Asian stories.
There will also be a special collection of milestone Filipino films shown as a part of the...
- 3/28/2019
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
The Premio Maguey, the Guadalajara Intl. Film Festival’s Lgbtq sidebar, will pay tribute to late photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Plans include the screening of “Mapplethorpe,” Ondi Timoner’s drama starring Matt Smith, on its March 9 opening night gala, which coincides with the 30th anniversary of the death of the iconic artist.
Mexican photographers have also been invited to participate in a competition for the best Mapplethorpe-inspired photo. A selection of the entries will be exhibited alongside the winners during the inaugural fiesta.
This year’s 8th edition features a highly diverse lineup of international films from as far afield as Indonesia, Slovenia, Estonia and Singapore, director-programmer Pavel Cortes told Variety.
“Not only do some hail from remote parts of the world but also from territories that are not known for their queer-themed cinema,” he noted. In some cases, films come from largely-homophobic countries like Russia or Muslim-dominant Indonesia. “‘Memories...
Mexican photographers have also been invited to participate in a competition for the best Mapplethorpe-inspired photo. A selection of the entries will be exhibited alongside the winners during the inaugural fiesta.
This year’s 8th edition features a highly diverse lineup of international films from as far afield as Indonesia, Slovenia, Estonia and Singapore, director-programmer Pavel Cortes told Variety.
“Not only do some hail from remote parts of the world but also from territories that are not known for their queer-themed cinema,” he noted. In some cases, films come from largely-homophobic countries like Russia or Muslim-dominant Indonesia. “‘Memories...
- 2/14/2019
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Around The World When You Were My AgeThe titles for the 48th International Film Festival Rotterdam are being announced in anticipation of the event running January 23 – February 3, 2018. We will update the program as new films are revealed.Tiger COMPETITIONSons of Denmark (Ulaa Salim)Take Me Somewhere Nice (Ena Sendijarević)Present.Perfect. (Shengze Zhu)Sheena667 (Grigory Dobrygin)Nona. If They Soak Me, I’ll Burn Them (Camila José Donoso)Koko-di Koko-da (Johannes Nyholm)Els dies que vindran (Carlos Marqués-Marcet)Bright Future COMPETITIONAlva (Ico Costa)Chèche lavi (Sam Ellison)De nuevo otra vez (Romina Paula)Doozy (Richard Squires)Dreissig (Simona Kostova)Ende der Saison (Elmar Imanov)Fabiana (Brunna Laboissière)The Gold-Laden Sheep & the Sacred Mountain (Ridham Janve)Heroes (Köken Ergun)Historia de mi nombre (Karin Cuyul)Last Night I Saw You Smiling (Kavich Neang)Lost Holiday (Michael Kerry Matthews/Thomas Matthews)Maggie (Yi Okseop)Mens (Isabelle Prim)No Data Plan (Miko Revereza...
- 1/9/2019
- MUBI
“Across Asia Film Festival 2018. Ghosts of Asia”
Cagliari, Italy – from 2 to 10 December 2018
Across Asia, the International Festival dedicated to explore the cinematography of South East Asia – and this year focusing on Thailand e Philippine – is back on the beautiful island of Sardinia and is promising International and Italian Premieres, screenings, masterclasses, workshops and parties all over the city of Cagliari.
Stefano Galanti and Maria Paola Zedda are the creators and the artistic directors of Across Asia Film Festival that is a young festival, focused on most interesting languages of recent cinematographic production from Asia, with the goal of promoting the encounter between Italian and foreign communities and developing cultural exchanges.
Across Asia’s mission is to become a window on the world, a different and unconventional way to look at the Asiatic continent and its representations, away from the standard and usual mainstream view.
The programme includes many Italian premieres...
Cagliari, Italy – from 2 to 10 December 2018
Across Asia, the International Festival dedicated to explore the cinematography of South East Asia – and this year focusing on Thailand e Philippine – is back on the beautiful island of Sardinia and is promising International and Italian Premieres, screenings, masterclasses, workshops and parties all over the city of Cagliari.
Stefano Galanti and Maria Paola Zedda are the creators and the artistic directors of Across Asia Film Festival that is a young festival, focused on most interesting languages of recent cinematographic production from Asia, with the goal of promoting the encounter between Italian and foreign communities and developing cultural exchanges.
Across Asia’s mission is to become a window on the world, a different and unconventional way to look at the Asiatic continent and its representations, away from the standard and usual mainstream view.
The programme includes many Italian premieres...
- 11/30/2018
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
‘Gurrumul’.
Director Paul Williams and producer Shannon Swan’s portrait of the late blind Indigenous musician Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, Gurrumul, won Best Documentary Feature Film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (Apsa) in Brisbane last night.
It was the first time an Australian film has won in the category, with Gurrumul beating out Amal, Of Fathers and Sons (Syrian Arab Republic, Lebanon, Qatar, Germany), Of Love & Law (Japan, UK, France) and Up Down & Sideways
Accepting the award together with Williams, Swan described the moment as bittersweet knowing that Gurrumul wasn’t there to share in it.
“To G, thank you so much for inviting us into your life and trusting us with your story,” he said.
Gurrumul also won Feature Documentary of the Year at last week’s Screen Producers Australia Awards, and is also nominated for five awards at next week’s AACTAs, including for Best Feature Documentary alongside Mountain,...
Director Paul Williams and producer Shannon Swan’s portrait of the late blind Indigenous musician Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, Gurrumul, won Best Documentary Feature Film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (Apsa) in Brisbane last night.
It was the first time an Australian film has won in the category, with Gurrumul beating out Amal, Of Fathers and Sons (Syrian Arab Republic, Lebanon, Qatar, Germany), Of Love & Law (Japan, UK, France) and Up Down & Sideways
Accepting the award together with Williams, Swan described the moment as bittersweet knowing that Gurrumul wasn’t there to share in it.
“To G, thank you so much for inviting us into your life and trusting us with your story,” he said.
Gurrumul also won Feature Documentary of the Year at last week’s Screen Producers Australia Awards, and is also nominated for five awards at next week’s AACTAs, including for Best Feature Documentary alongside Mountain,...
- 11/30/2018
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
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