Jakarta Film Fund 2024 celebrates second day of the Jakarta Film Week

The second day of Jakarta Film Week 2024 was celebrated with the premiere of three selected films from the Jakarta Film Fund (JFF) 2024. JFF, an incubator for emerging filmmakers in Indonesia, especially in Jakarta, is one of the highly anticipated flagship programs among film enthusiasts. This program aims to showcase unique and powerful stories that represent the face of Jakarta.

This year, JFF attracted more interest than the previous year. After a rigorous selection process from 20 shortlisted proposals, 8 film projects made it to the pitching stage. From here, the 3 best projects were selected to receive funding of IDR 50 million and access to Production Movielab facility, which includes mentorship in directing, scriptwriting, and editing. These three film projects also get the opportunity to compete in the Jakarta Film Fund’s World Premiere program at Jakarta Film Week 2024. Later, one of the three selected films will be awarded the prestigious Jakarta Film Fund Award.

Here are the 3 selected films that premiered on the second day of Jakarta Film Week 2024:

1. If You’re Happy, I’m Happy – directed by Mauliya Maila R. of Lanyah Films, a film that portrays the dynamics of a couple’s life amid the hustle and bustle of Jakarta.
2. Piknik Bersama Maut – directed by Nara Nugroho of Kapsul Waktu Studio, taking the audience on a unique picnic experience that turns into a horrifying event.
3. Followers – directed by Kevin Rahardjo of 89 Films, a story of social media obsession that shakes up the life of a teenager.

Novi Hanabi, the Program Manager of Jakarta Film Week, stated, “The technical development this year is much more advanced compared to last year, from the quality of human resources to the support in services and equipment. Last year, we didn’t provide equipment assistance, but this year we do. We also offer more facilities, from audio mixing to Digital Cinema Package (DCP). The mentorship for filmmakers has also been more intensive, from brainstorming to the editing process. This ultimately shows a significant improvement in the quality of the films produced.”

The following partners made important contributions to this year’s JFF film production process: Studio Super 8mm provided support through mentoring, online editing, and post-production consultation, helping filmmakers refine their works. Online editing support provided by Jagakarya Studio and Klover Color Studio, while BSM Rental provided production equipment to support filmmakers’ technical needs. In addition, Synchronize Post-Audio played a key role in the audio mixing process, ensuring optimal sound quality. Fresto Post provided support for mastering and creating the Digital Cinema Package (DCP), which facilitated the distribution of the film to various platforms. Collaboration with these partners has supported Jakarta Film Fund 2024 in producing high-quality films.

Mauliya Maila R., the director of If You’re Happy, I’m Happy, also shared her thoughts about the film: “I didn’t expect to be selected among the top three. Especially this year, the support has been far more incredible compared to last year for those of us who were chosen. I am even happier because this film finally came to life. This film is personally close to me. It is about a couple living in a big city like Jakarta, where busy lives often lead to a lack of communication, something I observe in daily life. The film was born from listening to the heartfelt stories of my married relatives. I am glad the film can be screened, and I hope it becomes a reminder for couples to take time and communicate well, especially in a bustling city.”

Other Programs on the Second Day: Film Screenings and Business Forum

In addition to the premiere of the Jakarta Film Fund films, the second day of Jakarta Film Week also screened several selected films. One of the highlights was the screening of Love Lies and

Time Still Turns The Pages, a collaboration with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETO). These films offered profound insights into love and time, presented through poetic narratives.

Love Lies is a film that begins with lies and ends with love. Ho Miu Ki, the writer and director of Love Lies, shared a bit about her motivation for writing the film. “This story is close to us. It is a story of a lonely person who gets to know other people through the internet, the opportunity to deceive on social media and the emotion of love that anyone can feel, regardless of age. All of that is around us and I finally put it together into this Love Lies story,” she said enthusiastically.

Meanwhile, Time Still Turns The Pages by Nick Cheuk tells the story of a high school teacher who begins to recall buried childhood memories after discovering an anonymous suicide note in the classroom. He struggles to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again while dealing with a series of family issues.

The screening of the short films Malican Flies and Seahorse Parents, in collaboration with Erasmus, also highlighted the second day of Jakarta Film Week. Both films were part of the Global Short Official Selection 3, showcasing the power of short storytelling through captivating visuals. In addition to the film screenings, the Business Forum held that day also garnered significant attention. Organized in collaboration with the Directorate General of Film, Music, and Media (PMM) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, this forum served as a platform for industry professionals to explore co-production opportunities with the national film industry and discuss the dynamics of the film audience market in Indonesia.

The Business Forum provided a space for collaboration between film producers and business professionals to support the growth of the Indonesian film industry through projects that have market potential, both nationally and internationally. This forum also discussed co-production schemes, which are increasingly favoured by filmmakers and international business professionals as a way to enhance production quality and expand the distribution reach of Indonesian films to global markets. This collaborative effort aims to strengthen the local industry while opening up new opportunities for Indonesian cinema to the global market.

Jakarta Film Week 2024 has proven itself as a festival that not only showcases quality films but also serves as a hub for discussion, collaboration, and the exchange of creative ideas. With innovative programs each year, the festival aims to continue supporting the growth of the film industry in Indonesia and further strengthen its position on the international film map.

Jakarta Film Week 2024 will run until October 27, 2024, featuring quality films from around the world, along with a series of industry programs designed to strengthen Indonesia’s position on the global film map.