Internet users can expand Indonesian film market: House Commission VII

The growth of internet users in Indonesia, which has reached 235 million people or about 81 per cent of the total population, can encourage the expansion of the Indonesian film market through online digital access platforms, according to Lamhot Sinaga, Deputy Chairman of House Commission VII from the Golkar faction. “Almost 235 million internet users, that means potential film viewers,” Lamhot said during a Public Hearing of the House Commission VII Working Committee on creativity and national film distribution at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Monday. Lamhot said that in the current era, the creativity-based economic value, including through film in various other countries, has become an instrument supporting a country’s economy. He noted that with Indonesia’s population reaching more than 280 million people, and 81 per cent of them being internet users, this can be an opportunity to expand the local film distribution market. Lamhot said the problem of national film distribution is still centred on the limited distribution of cinema screens, where 70 per cent of screens are on Java and in big cities, while the other 30 per cent are spread outside Java. “There is no equal access between people in Kalimantan, Papua, Sumatra to a film compared to those in Java. Because in Java, 70 per cent of the cinema screens are monopolised by 3 major cinema networks, especially XXI,” he said. This is not proportional to the explosion of creativity from regional filmmakers who are able to produce dozens of films, especially feature-length documentaries that do not get a market in commercial cinemas. On the other hand, equitable distribution of physical infrastructure to all corners of the country requires massive investment and a long process. He appreciated the existence of PT Rangkai Kreativitas Indonesia, which provides an online platform as a distribution channel for national films that have not been able to get screen access in major cinema networks in Indonesia. With an online film screening platform, it can be an alternative solution to achieve a healthier film ecosystem and eliminate the monopoly by exhibitors who are also affiliated with certain production houses.