Malaysian filmmaker Ho Yuhang’s The Silent Village was presented with the Kongchak Award and a BSM Award at the close of the inaugural JAFF Future Project (December 3-5) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Produced by Lorna Tee through Malaysian production outfit Paperheart, the crime thriller is set in Indonesia and inspired by one of the country’s most notorious criminal cases, in which a shaman was convicted of multiple murders over a decade-long period.
Pangku (Love Unwanted), the feature directing debut of Indonesian actor Reza Rahadian, was presented with the White Light Post-Production Award. Produced by Arya Ibrahim and co-produced by Gita Fara, the film is a drama about women who offer coffee and company in a rural area of Java. Sampai Mati (Until Death), a documentary about the Bali bombings directed by Australia’s Ben Golotta, also picked up a BSM Award.
JAFF Future Project was held as part of the inaugural JAFF Market at the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF), which held its 19th edition this year. Taking place at the Jogja Expo Center, the market featured 151 booths, mostly showcasing Indonesian companies, and attracted 6,723 participants from 18 countries.
Among announcements made at the market, Indonesia’s Ministry of Culture signed a co-production agreement with the Netherlands, designed to open up opportunities for filmmakers from both countries to receive funding from their respective governments. The agreement was signed by Barbera Wolfensberger, Director General for Culture and Media at the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, and Giring Ganesha, Deputy Minister of Culture of Indonesia.
At the market closing ceremony, Indonesia’s Miles Films announced that its latest project, Rangga & Cinta, is starting production with backing from Korea’s Barunson E&A and Indonesia’s Imajinari.
“During the three days of JAFF Market, the high enthusiasm of film industry players in Indonesia was evident, as reflected in the number of meetings recorded throughout the event. This is seen as a sign that the Indonesian film industry is open to collaboration, both within Indonesia and internationally,” said Ajish Dibyo, Executive Director of JAFF Market.