JIFFest is back despite budget constraints

JIFFest is back despite budget constraints

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Despite financial constraints almost calling off the event, the
annual Jakarta International Film Festival (JIFFest) is back for
the fifth time, although shorter in duration and offering a
narrower selection of films.F

Starting Oct. 14 through Oct. 19, the festival will screen
only 38 films, or one third of the number of films presented last
year.

This year's films will be screened at four places: Goethe Haus
and Galeri Oktagon in Central Jakarta and Pusat Perfilman H.
Usmar Ismail (PPHUI) and Erasmus Huis in South Jakarta.

According to JIFFest director and co-founder Shanty Harmayn,
the financial constraints are the result of some parties
withdrawing sponsorship.

"JIFFest is an independent initiative. We're very much
dependent on funding and sponsorship and also ticket revenue. So,
if one sponsor withdraws it will be very difficult for us," she
said recently, unable to elaborate on the cause of the loss of
sponsorship.

"We're very much hoping that the government will assist with
the funding. Because foreign film festivals like Cannes,
Singapore, Pusan... you name it, are funded 40 percent to 50
percent by the government," Shanty said.

"We almost canceled the event. But many parties insisted that
we go on with it. So, here we are. We have to cut the number of
films, but not the quality."

Every year, hundreds of movie buffs pack JIFFest screening
venues to enjoy quality movies from around the globe, which
barely make their way in to mainstream cinemas.

Past audiences have even been willing to sit on the floor if
tickets sold out.

This year's festival incorporates films from 15 countries,
under the theme of "Understanding Change" -- aimed at
understanding big changes in the world.

The festival will kick off with Nowhere in Africa, a film by
German director Caroline Link which won this year's Academy
Awards for Best Foreign Film.

Another film on the theme -- September 11 -- is an omnibus of
11 short films from 11 directors across the world, such as Sean
Penn, Mira Nair from India and Samira Makhmalbaf from Iran.

The film portrays the world's reactions to the Sept. 11
tragedy and the changes that became apparent in the event's
aftermath.

Other highlights include Michael Moore's Bowling for
Columbine, the winner of the 2003 Academy Award for Best
Documentary and the highest selling documentary on weapon
possession in the United States; Invasion of the Barbarians by
Canadian Denys Arcand, which won Best Screenplay at the 2003
Cannes Film Festival and one of 2003 Cannes' Official Selection
called Les Tripplettes de Belleville by Sylvain Chomet.

The festival will be closed by Osama, an Afghanistan film
describing the background of the Taliban, directed by Sedigh
Barmak.

For the first time ever, JIFFest will also hold the 2003 Short
Documentary Film Competition. The selection process began several
months ago and twelve finalists have been chosen. The winner will
be announced at the end of the festival.

JIFFest will also hold seminars on Women in Film with speaker
Debra Zimmerman from Women Make Movies, and also Human Rights in
Film.

Ticket prices are Rp 15,000 each, and can be ordered online
(since last Monday) through website www.jiffest.com. Starting
from today, until Oct. 13, you can also obtain tickets from the
JIFFest ticket office, Jl. Sutan Syahrir IC, Blok 3-4, Menteng,
Central Jakarta.

Other information is available in the JIFFest quick guide at
the JIFFest office, through the JIFFest website, or by calling
the hotline number (021) 31925139.