JiFFest-2

It was interesting to read the comprehensive article on JiFFest-2 by Risa Permanadeli (The Jakarta Post, Nov. 14, Looking back on Jakarta International Film Festival). In her article, she said that Russian Bachtiar Khudoynazaroc's Luna Papa (1999) should have been replaced by Yugoslav Emir Kusturica's Black Cat, White Cat (1998) for stealing Kusturica's cinematic language. As far as I remember, the film Black Cat, White Cat had been screened in JiFFest-1 here last year.

In my opinion, JiFFest gives opportunity for both local moviegoers and cinematic practitioners to learn much about the development of world cinema, including their cultures and techniques, out of Hollywood. Unfortunately, Israeli Amos Gital's Kadosh (1999) and Indian Shyam Benegal's Hari Bhari (2000), which had been scheduled could not be screened and without any clear reasons.

Furthermore the ticketing system this time was bad. Perhaps the organizers should have used cash registers as are used in shops or supermarkets. Besides that, let me ask why the organizers invited the Open Society Institute, financed by George Soros, to only sponsor the JiFFest-2's category for "Issues on Contemporary Islamic Culture"?

I hope the organization of JiFFest would be improved in the future. However, I would like to thank the organizer, who with minimum funds, presented alternative and "rare" films to the city.

DARUL AQSHA

Jakarta