Industry program livens up third day of Jakarta Film Week 2024

The third day of Jakarta Film Week 2024 presented a series of events that further strengthened the festival’s position as a prestigious platform for both national and international film industries.

Hundreds of audiences packed Starium 2 of CGV Grand Indonesia to watch You Will Die in 6 Hours, directed by Lee Yoon Seok and starring Jae Hyun NCT and actress Park Ju Hyun. Released in South Korea on October 16^th this year, the film successfully captured the attention of the Jakarta audience and became one of the highlights during the festival.

On the third day of Jakarta Film Week, the JFW NET program became a major attraction in addition to film screenings. JFW NET served as a vital platform connecting national and international filmmakers to share knowledge and ideas and foster global collaboration opportunities. The program invited guests from Southeast Asia, Asia, and Europe, including filmmakers, producers, distributors, and film festival organizers, to engage in discussions, provide training, and expand professional networks.

Gayatri Nadya, Festival Manager of Jakarta Film Week, emphasized the importance of JFW NET as a collaboration hub: “The JFW NET programs aim to promote and strengthen the circulation of the film industry while serving as a hub for filmmakers, be it beginners or professionals, to expand the potential for national and international collaboration. We hope the sustainability of each program will take Indonesian filmmakers to the global stage through sustainable capacity building,” she explained. Gayatri also expressed her hopes for Jakarta Film Week and JFW NET in the coming years to grow sharper, more sustainable, and beneficial for everyone involved in the film ecosystem.

The enthusiasm for JFW NET was evident in the three Masterclass sessions that delved into various aspects of film production, including scriptwriting, directing, and editing. The Scriptwriting session was led by Kim Min Ha, director of Idiot Girls and School Ghost: School Anniversary, who shared a unique formula she often uses when writing scripts. “Think of our characters as mentos candies meeting soda; the sweet character, like the candy, must encounter certain situations, like soda, to create an explosive story,” she explained.

The Directing Masterclass was presented by Sabrina Rochelle from Indonesia and Ho Miu Ki, director of Love Lies, while the Editing session was presented by Nick Cheuk, who is the director, writer, and editor of Time Still Turns The Pages, alongside Kelvin Nugroho from the Indonesian Film Editors Association (INAFEd). These Masterclasses in Directing and Editing were part of a collaboration with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETO).

Producers Network: Collaboration for the Future of Indonesian Cinema

One of the key events on the third day was the Producers Network, a program designed to promote collaboration opportunities and professional networking among film industry professionals. Held in partnership with Adhya Pictures and the Indonesian Film Producers Association (APROFI), this event brought together young Indonesian filmmakers to connect with producers, investors, and potential stakeholders from both domestic and international markets.

This invitation-only event for the Indonesian film industry became a platform for filmmakers to network and discuss film projects that could reach out to international audiences. In this session, Adhya Pictures also shared updates on their upcoming and work-in-progress film projects until 2025, such as Forza (a football-themed film) and Yakin Nikah (an adaptation of a successful YouTube series), as well as other titles that are projected for development throughout 2025.

Program and Film Screening Highlights

On its third day, Jakarta Film Week also showcased several feature films. Among them were screenings of Twilight of The Warrior, The Remnant, and a compilation of Hong Kong short films titled I Have Arrived, Mamamoo, Overman, and Breathe Without Water, which are part of a collaboration with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETO). The presence of directors Yan Yan Mak (I Have Arrived), Frankie Lee (Mamamoo), and To Chin Him (Overman) added to the excitement of the event.

These three filmmakers shared insights through the themes they explored, which were closely related to children. I Have Arrived is inspired by the issue of mindful parenting, Mamamoo reflects the fear of the disappearance of interspecies relationships, while Overman portrays children’s dreams of becoming superheroes like Ultraman. “But as we grow up, we realize that being like Ultraman is not a realistic goal,” said To Chin Min, director of Overman.

In addition to that, audiences also enjoyed screenings of other international collaborative films, including Sun of The Sun and Bride Stone, which were part of a partnership with Alternativa, and Heresy (Witte Wieven) from the Netherlands, shown in collaboration with Erasmus.

With such a diverse lineup of programs, Jakarta Film Week 2024 continues to attract the audiences and confirms its position as a crucial platform for both local and international filmmakers. Through programs like JFW NET, Producers Network, Masterclasses, and a selection of film screenings, the festival has successfully created a space for collaboration and innovation that supports the growth of Indonesia’s film industry on a global scale.

Jakarta Film Week 2024 will run until October 27, 2024, featuring high-quality films from around the world and a series of industry programs designed to elevate Indonesia’s role on the global film map.