FTW: Indonesian Film Festival 2013

THE popular Indonesian Film Festival is back, and Regina Karis has details on how can you win tickets to two featured films!

Scroll down to find out how you can win!

Held in collaboration with the Melbourne University Indonesian Students’ Association (MUISA), the Melbourne Indonesian Film Festival is back for an eighth year, from April 26 to May 2 at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI).

The largest and only annual celebration of Indonesian screen culture in Australia to date, organisers have this year bumped the number of featured films from five to eight.

The films cover a wide range of genres that reflect Indonesia’s diverse culture.

Spoilt for choice, we asked the festival’s project manager Michelle Mulyono about this year’s highlights and some of her top film picks:

Modus Anomali (2012) 

An unconventional psychological thriller by renowned Indonesian director Joko Anwar, Modus Anomali tells the story of a man who finds himself waking up in a forest with chunks of his memory missing. He must now save his family before the time runs out. Read our review of the film. 

Hello Goodbye (2011)

In the city of Busan, South Korea, two Indonesians are forced together by circumstances and must struggle to get along, discovering that friendship and love can be found where they least expect it.

Di Balik Frekuensi (2012)

Di Balik Frekuensi (literally “behind the frequency”) asks one main question: 14 years after the reform era, can the Indonesian press be bought? This documentary film explores the current constellation of media conglomerates in the country, featuring snippets from journalists and media observers, and comments on the current state of the press.

Mika  (2013)

A shy and awkward high school girl suffering from scoliosis meets the film’s titular character—a young man who, despite having AIDS, is cheerful and optimistic. In the midst of their battles against their own personal tribulations, their relationship soon develops into strong friendship and then inevitably, love.

Meet and greets, workshops and more

For those interested to go behind the scenes, the festival will be holding a Meet & Greet sessionwith Joko Anwar, Sheila Timothy, and Tia Hasibuan, the director, producer and co-producer of Modus Anomali.

The session kicks off at 6.30pm, April 25 at Ramen Ya  (108 Bourke St, Melbourne), and will be hosted by the acting executive producer of Radio Australia’s Indonesian team Aristo Ambyo. Mr Ambyo will also be leading a discussion around the topic “Indonesia and the Shifting Film Industry towards Asia”.

There will also be a workshop for those who have always dreamed of writing, directing, and producing their own films, led by the Modus Anomali crew. This event will be held at the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (72 Queens Rd, Melbourne), starting from 11am on Saturday, April 27.

Both events will provide interesting insights into the Indonesian cinema landscape.

Bidadari Bidadari Surga, adapted from a novel of the same title, tells the story of a woman who is pressured to find love. Photo: StarVision

As a dedicated supporter of the development of Indonesian Language Education in Australian schools, the festival will feature an educational program specifically dedicated to students learning Bahasa Indonesia. As part of the program, the Indonesian film Bidadari Bidadari Surga (2012)—literally “angels in/from heaven”— will be screened twice, providing an opportunity for students to delve deeper into Indonesian culture and practice the language they have learned at school.

For the complete program, list of screenings, ticket bookings, and more information, visit the official Indonesian Film Festival website, or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.