Harmoko wants revival of local film

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information Harmoko yesterday called for a revival of the local film industry which has been mired in a deep recession for the past few years.

Speaking at a ceremony to install the board of directors of Perum PFN, the state-owned film making company, Harmoko placed high hopes on the company to lead the revival.

"PFN needs to improve its management," he was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying.

The local film industry has been virtually doomed by an onslaught of imported films. Later came the advent of video, laser discs and now private commercial televisions, which also give preference to imported action-filled American and Kungfu films.

Many film producers have lost their careers in recent years and film stars have resorted to the growing industry of made-for- television mini-series, known locally as sinetron.

Harmoko yesterday reinstalled Navy colonel Amoroso Katamsi as president of the PFN board, Soebijanto as financial and administrative director, Subiyanto as production director and Adi Kasno as marketing director.

The minister admitted that the local film industry is going through tough times.

"Nevertheless, we should pool our resources to revive the film industry. For this I would like to see the PFN board of directors improve and strengthen the management of the company."

He also reminded the directors that while they are expected to turn a profit for the state company, they must never abandon the ideal mission of the company -- to make the film industry an integral part of the national struggle.

PFN, he added, must also be able to produce films that cater to the needs of all strata in society.

One of PFN's major productions is the dramatized account of the communist-backed rebellion in September 1965 entitled the Betrayal of the Sept. 30 Movement/the Indonesian Communist Party. It has also produced popular films for televisions such as Si Unyil and Aku Cinta Indonesia (ACI). (emb)