Rejected by the Domestic Festival, Solata Film Justru Borong Awards in Europe

MAKASSAR - The feature film Solata (Friends are the family we choose) failed to achieve achievements in the country, especially at the Bandung Film Festival in July 2026, but has won various international awards in Europe.

Film director and producer, Ichwan Persada, responded to this as a reflection of the domestic festival appreciation system which often prioritizes the popularity of big names over the substance and artistic quality of the work itself.

"This is a reflection of us together on the appreciation system of domestic festivals. Even though our works are appreciated by foreigners, it does not necessarily happen in our own country because there may be other points of view," Ichwan was quoted by Antara, Sunday, July 19.

Ichwan Persada reminded that a similar precedent had occurred two years ago in the film "Women From Rote Island" whose actors played amazingly but escaped recognition at the Indonesian Film Festival.

He also admitted that if the condition continues, it will show a pattern of discrimination based on fame that still needs to be evaluated in the national film ecosystem.

Ichwan explained that the film Solata, which he worked on in 2025, proved its quality on the international stage after winning a special award for culture and humanity from the Golden FEMI Film Festival in Bulgaria in June 2026.

In fact, the success continued with the confirmation of the presence of the film produced by Walma Pictures and Indonesia Sinema Persada at the ASEAN Plus Three Film Festival in Czechoslovakia in September 2026.

"The international appreciation is very big, especially since this Solata film is still waiting for the results of the competition selection at the Tirana International Film Festival in Albania which is an Oscar-qualified festival," he said.

He also admitted that the consecutive achievements confirmed that the works of local filmmakers are able to compete and be accepted universally in various parts of the world.

"Solata continues to expand the reach of cultural diplomacy through the support of state institutions. Thanks to the facilitation of the Indonesian Embassy in Jordan, this film is scheduled to participate in the 5th Jordan Children and Youth Film Festival in Amman in the near future," he explained.

According to him, the success of penetrating various international festivals, from the Balkans to the Middle East, shows that Indonesian cinema has narrative and visual power that goes beyond the boundaries of language and culture.