Cinema Opens Gradually Reawakening Optimism Of The Film Industry

JAKARTA - The filmmaker and chairman of the Indonesian Oscar Selection Committee, Garin Nugroho, said that the gradual opening of theaters would bring optimism to the Indonesian film industry.

"If the pandemic has decreased, then the cinema will open slowly and not become a COVID-19 cluster, Inshaallah next year it will open again and encourage the golden age of Indonesian cinema again," said Garin via an online conference, Tuesday, November 10.

Garin said that the "golden age of Indonesian cinema" was not without reason. According to the data he shared, in 2019, the number of film viewers in Indonesian cinemas reached 57 million viewers, with 140 films selected for the 92nd Academy Awards.

The pandemic finally made Indonesian films to be selected and competed for the Oscars drastically decreased, considering that one of the requirements was to be broadcast on the big screen.

"(Pandemic) It is a problem, why only 50 films were selected. Entering the pandemic period, we are limited to watching movies (in theaters)," explained the director of Kucumbu, Body Indahku.

However, opening a cinema cannot be done immediately. Apart from restrictions and strict protocols as well as audience concerns about the spread of the virus, according to Garin, it is necessary to have big films to attract interest on the silver screen again today.

When asked about films that air on OTT (over-the-top) services, Garin said that there are many conditions that must be met by a film in OTT to be able to participate in the selection and be included in the Academy Awards.

"New platforms have sprung up, coupled with cinemas with limited audiences, so this year's Oscar is experiencing new symptoms and an interesting system to read," said Garin.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences previously said that films that aired on streaming services could temporarily be included in the Oscar selection, but required certain conditions.

Especially for films wishing to compete in Best Picture and other categories, films must be screened commercially for at least seven days in the Los Angeles theater.

Responding to this, filmmaker and senior actor Deddy Mizwar said that the new era of film on the streaming platform would be homework (PR) for the Indonesian Oscar Selection Committee in the future, for the assessment and diversity of Indonesian cinema so that it can compete in the international arena.

"It has to be considered (OTT), because the provisions (Oscar) are allowed. This is our common homework, so these requirements must be studied, considering that (OTT) is not really detailed in our country," said Deddy.

"We all gather to make this a PR committee for later, if for example there are symptoms of a prolonged pandemic, OTT can be part of the judging and subsequent assessment," he added.