Organizing JiFFest

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