JiFFest-2

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should have been replaced by Yugoslav Emir Kusturica's Black Cat,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