Organizing JiFFest

I have always been diligent in attending film festivals wherever I am, but no longer when it comes to the Jakarta Film Festival (JiFFest).

JiFFest claimed in its magazine that tickets could be bought at the Umar Ismail Film Center from Nov. 3 to Nov. 12. So many people, including my friend and I tried to purchase tickets there but failed.

When we went to the center to buy our tickets, we were told we could not as we had not made a booking.

We were told the only alternative was to queue for a ticket at least for one and a half hours before the screening time. But there was no guarantee we would be able to get a ticket.

A film festival should be embraced. My friend and I wanted to do just that but because of this ridiculous ticketing system, which offered only long hours of queuing with no guaranteed return, we could not.

I do not want to ridicule the film festival itself, just the ticketing system which seems to work against people getting to see their chosen films, rather than allowing them to enjoy what is on offer.

ANGELA TRESNASARI

Jakarta