Riri Riza plans to return film award

Riri Riza plans to return film award

JAKARTA: In response to blasphemy allegations made by the World
Hindu Youth Organization (WHYO) to Garin Nugroho's movie Opera
Jawa (Requiem from Java), young film director Riri Riza said he
wanted to return the award he received from Bali International
Film Festival, organized by WYHO.

Garin's movie is an interpretation of the Ramayana epic.

"I'll make an official statement to the press as soon as
possible," Riri said on the sidelines of the opening of Jakarta
International Film Festival (Jiffest) on Dec. 9.

He said that his gesture aimed to discourage moves that
stifled the freedom of expression.

Riri added that several filmmakers received an award from the
festival. He was considering contacting filmmakers to discuss the
possibility of their acting in unison.

Recently, a number of artists have indicated growing concern
about fundamentalist actions that suppress cultural expression,
like the recent demand from the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) that
CP Biennale Arts Festival dismantle Agus Suwage's work, which
displayed nude photographs taken by Davy Linggar.

Previously, WYHO protested Iwan Fals, accusing the singer of
committing blasphemy against the Hindu religion due, it said, to
Iwan's depiction of God on the sleeve of his record. --JP