The JOGJA-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (JAFF) will be held again for eight days, from 30 November to 7 December 2024. Samsara, a black and white silent film by director who has won various national and international awards, Garin Nugroho, will open the festival on 30 November 2024.
Meanwhile, the latest drama film by director Yandy Laurens, entitled 1 Brother 7 Ponakan, will be the closing film of JAFF 2024 as well as its premiere. Previously, Yandy released a film entitled Falling in Love, Like in the Films, which received 11 nominations for the 2024 Indonesian Film Festival.
JAFF Director Ifa Isfansyah explained, with the theme “Metanoia”, JAFF 2024 wants to depict the ongoing transformation of Asian cinema in achieving excellence, even amidst various global challenges.
“The metanoia promoted by Asian cinema ignites hope for the survival of our lives, even a process of rebirth into a new and better form,” he explained.
This hope is reflected in the special features of this year’s edition of JAFF. For the first time, the opening and closing films of the festival are Indonesian productions as a celebration of the birth of JAFF Market, a special Indonesian film market.
“Post-pandemic, our film industry continues to move and grow, both in the number, quality and diversity of stories as well as impressive technical achievements,” explained Ifa.
Indonesian films continue to receive praise and awards on the world film scene. Especially this year, cinema attendance figures show impressive achievements.
“In September, it was recorded that cinema audiences had reached the highest record number since 1926, surpassing the number of viewers of imported films in Indonesian cinemas,” he said.
We want to present the spirit of Metanoia, which is this year’s theme, to the brilliant Indonesian film industry amidst Asian cinema which is also growing together.
He stated that there will also be an inaugural edition of JAFF Market which will take place 3-5 December 2024. This event is a marketplace and medium that will be a place and means of networking for the entire Indonesian film ecosystem.
“JAFF Market is here as a response to the growth of our film industry, especially after this pandemic. “The hope is that JAFF Market will trigger the birth of collaborations which will continue to trigger growth and innovation in the Indonesian film industry,” said JAFF Market Director Linda Gozali.
This year’s 19th JAFF will present 180 films from 25 Asia Pacific countries which will be screened in competition and non-competition programs. A total of 12 selected feature films competed in the Main Competition program to win the Golden and Silver Hanoman Awards. Some of them are Viet and Nam by director Truong Minh Quy from Vietnam which was selected for the Cannes 2024 Un Certain Regard competition and In the Land of Brothers, the feature film debut of directors Raha Amirfazli and Alireza Ghasemi which won the Directing Award: World Cinema Dramatic Sundance Film Festival 2024 .
In the Light of Asia short film competition, 18 films will compete for the Blencong Awards. JAFF will also give awards to directors who present their first and second feature films through the NETPAC Awards competition. Apart from that, as many as six Indonesian films broadcast this year will compete in the JAFF Indonesian Screen Awards program to win the Best Film, Best Director, Best Scriptwriter, Best Actor and Best Cinematography awards. (M-3)
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jogja-netpac asian film festival 2024
### Interview with Ifa Isfansyah, Director of the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF)
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Ifa. We’re excited about the upcoming JAFF 2024. Can you tell us a bit more about this year’s festival and its theme, “Metanoia”?
**Ifa Isfansyah:** Thank you for having me! I’m thrilled to share more about JAFF 2024. The theme ”Metanoia” reflects a transformative journey. It’s about rebirth and hope, particularly in the context of Asian cinema facing global challenges. We want to depict how cinema can evolve and thrive despite difficulties, embodying resilience and renewal.
**Interviewer:** The choice of films for the opening and closing ceremonies is quite notable. Why did you choose Garin Nugroho’s *Samsara* to open the festival, and Yandy Laurens’ *1 Brother 7 Ponakan* to close it?
**Ifa Isfansyah:** *Samsara*, being a black and white silent film, is a tribute to cinema’s roots and showcases Garin’s exceptional talent. It sets a reflective tone for the festival. On the other hand, Yandy’s *1 Brother 7 Ponakan* not only closes the festival but also marks its premiere, showcasing the latest creativity in Indonesian cinema. This is symbolic of our goal: to champion local talent and celebrate our cinematic achievements.
**Interviewer:** It’s impressive that both the opening and closing films are Indonesian productions. Can you elaborate on the significance of this choice?
**Ifa Isfansyah:** Absolutely! This year marks the birth of the JAFF Market, an initiative aimed at enhancing the Indonesian film industry. By choosing Indonesian films to bookend the festival, we are celebrating our local talent and their contributions to cinema. It also emphasizes the spirit of collaboration and growth within our film industry, which has shown remarkable resilience post-pandemic.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned impressive cinema attendance figures this year. How do you see this trend impacting Indonesian filmmakers?
**Ifa Isfansyah:** The surge in attendance is a great indicator of growing public interest in domestic films. It reflects a shift in viewer preferences, highlighting the importance of local stories. This, in turn, inspires filmmakers to continue innovating and exploring diverse narratives, ultimately enriching our film landscape.
**Interviewer:** Lastly, what are you looking forward to the most at this year’s festival?
**Ifa Isfansyah:** I’m particularly excited about witnessing the conversations that arise from the screenings and discussions surrounding the theme of “Metanoia”. It’s an opportunity for filmmakers, audiences, and cinephiles to connect and inspire one another, fostering a vibrant community around Asian cinema.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Ifa. We can’t wait for JAFF 2024 and look forward to seeing the transformative impact it will have on both audiences and filmmakers.
**Ifa Isfansyah:** Thank you! We appreciate your support and hope to see everyone at the festival celebrating the richness of our cinematic heritage.
