Film Center ready for Jakarta anniversary<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Renovation of the 21-year-old Usmar Ismail Film
\nCenter in Kuningan, South Jakarta, will be completed for the
\ncapital's jubilee on June 22.<\/p>\n
The head of the center's foundation, Syaukat, said yesterday
\nthe new five-story office would also include a basement for film
\narchives.<\/p>\n
Head of the Indonesian Film Archives Misbach Jusa Biran
\nsaid, "We are hoping the new facility will encourage public
\ninterest in national films and other documentaries."<\/p>\n
He said the archive has about 200 films which are well
\npreserved. These were mostly selected films nominated in annual
\nnational film competitions.<\/p>\n
A 1995 catalog on Indonesian films revealed 2,261 titles had
\nbeen produced since 1926, of which only 1,500 were in good
\ncondition.<\/p>\n
Syaukat said, "The governor (Surjadi Soedirdja) expects the
\nrenovated center could help strengthen the national film identity
\nand integrity."<\/p>\n
The second floor of the 7,500-meter-square site will also
\ninclude a 500-seat cinema, where selected premiers of local and
\nforeign films would be screened.<\/p>\n
Misbach said the center's free services and facilities,
\nincluding free cinema and library membership, would hopefully
\nincrease public interest in local films.<\/p>\n
The building, which is next to Pasar Festival on Jl. H.R.
\nRasuna Said, was first built by governor Ali Sadikin on Oct. 20,
\n1975. The municipality owned the building and let the foundation
\nrun it.<\/p>\n
The renovation is part of a planned Rp 500 billion project by
\nthe Bakrie Group and Gesit Group, under a build, operate and
\ntransfer deal with the city.<\/p>\n
A subsidiary of Gesit, PT Dharma Alumas Sakti, started
\nrenovating the film center in December 1995.<\/p>\n
The 20-year deal covers renovation of the city-owned film
\ncenter and the Soemantri Brodjonegoro sports center. The
\ndevelopers are also building city offices. A parking lot under a
\nhockey field with a capacity of 1,000 cars has been completed.<\/p>\n
Seventy percent of the Usmar Ismail Center's office units
\nwould be used for commercial use and 30 percent would be for
\nfilm-related use.<\/p>\n
Syaukat said the archives room would be maintained at a
\ntemperature of eight degree Celsius with a certain degree of
\nhumidity to preserve film quality.<\/p>\n
Syaukat said the foundation would have an office which would
\nbe exempted from utility bills.<\/p>\n
Misbach said he hoped for government subsidy, so students
\ncould watch educational and documentary films for free. (10)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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