Independent festival celebrates guerrilla filmmaking

Joko E.H. Anwar Contributor Jakarta

Before today's "independent" film craze hit almost every corner of the capital, a bunch of young film buffs started it all with a small festival.

Named the Indonesia Independent Film and Video Festival, or FFVII, the event was organized three years ago by film devotees who later on started to group in a non-profit organization called the Independent Film Committee (Konfiden).

Back then, the 50 entries submitted were mostly poorly made videos shot in Video8 handy cam, making it more appropriate for the event to be named Indonesia Amateur Video Festival. Still, some 950 people came along, and seemed to enjoy the screened movies.

This year, the fourth FFVII is coming around again, scheduled to be held from Oct. 16 to Oct. 20 and plans to screen 78 entries coming from several big cities in the country.

Screenings will be held from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Bali Room at Hotel Indonesia on Jl. Thamrin, Central Jakarta for free.

Just like last year, Konfiden expects a high number of viewers to turn up for this year's screenings.

While the group might be responsible for the now wide misuse of the term "independent film", they also deserve credit for their contribution to the revival of Indonesian cinema.

The first FFVII received a warm welcome from filmmakers and film audiences here and its existence was quickly acknowledged by many filmmaker wannabes in many major cities in the country.

"We're trying to make films a part of the culture of the Indonesian people," said long time organizer of the program, Lulu Ratna.

She argued that the reason for the fast growth of the American film industry was because movies were so close to people's lives there. "They already have a tradition of renting movies regularly, for example. It has become one of their prime needs. We have to create a similar condition here."

The group's goal may already have been realized because since the first event, more and more young people have had the confidence to grab whatever equipment they can get and begin shooting their movies to realize their dream of being a filmmaker.

Seeing the enthusiasm of young people to make movies, some more financially secure parties seem to have followed in the group's footsteps.

Early this year, private TV station SCTV held a similar event titled Indonesia Independent Film Festival (FFII) which is scheduled to be held every year.

SCTV's festival offered quite big amount of prize money for winners (Rp 35 million for first place) while all entries which were nominated for best film got a chance to be shown on TV.

Giant cigarette company PT Sampoerna also held a festival and workshop for new filmmakers who were still studying in junior high school. This year's event offered huge prizes including free tuition for studying film at the Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ) for its winners.

Still, the FFVII is still considered by many as the event that really captures the spirit of guerrilla filmmaking.

"Konfiden is the only one which can be called real independent," film director Aria Kusumadewa said in a press conference.

Independent film is a label initially created in the U.S. to distinguish movies which are not produced by major film studios.

Since there are no major film studios yet here in the country, the term is still trying to find its own meaning. However, such an event seems to be a good place for filmmaker wannabes to achieve recognition.

Just like previous FFVII, audiences' vote will determine the winners of the Konfiden award.

Two foundations -- namely Science, Aesthetic and Technology (SET) established by film director Garin Nugroho and Kuldesak Foundation by producer Mira Lesmana -- will choose winners for several other titles.

The festival is also scheduled to screen 20 films made by foreign filmmakers along with several discussions about filmmaking.

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For further information contact Konfiden on tel: (021) 819.4332 or check out www.konfiden.or.id