Surati Jokowi, Indonesian Film People Ask For Subsidies And Stimulus Packages

Illustration (Photo: Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Film People sent a letter to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). In their letter, they asked the government to provide assistance in the form of a stimulus package and subsidies in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

They convey this through a letter consisting of two pages and uploaded by a number of filmmakers ranging from directors to actors and actresses on their social media.

One of those who uploaded this letter was Riri Riza via her Instagram account @rizariri. This upload has been liked by 1,414 and commented on by 23 social media users.

"We really hope the coordination of the Indonesian government through the relevant ministries in the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet through various stimulus packages, subsidies, as well as legal and health protection," the letter said as quoted on Friday, March 5.

This support from the government, according to Indonesian Film Insan, allows them to continue to work to present and screen films. "And give a sense of security to the audience to return to the cinema," he said.

These filmmakers also admitted that they missed seeing President Jokowi come to theaters and hoped that the cinema could survive this pandemic. "The cinema must survive because it is where our film meets the audience," the letter wrote.

Furthermore, this letter also touched on how the COVID-19 pandemic hit the film industry in the country and resulted in tens of thousands of workers having difficulty surviving due to disruption in the pre-post-production process.

The industry is also losing their potential income as cinemas are also being affected. Because, even though the cinema has opened with a capacity of 50 percent, many people are still afraid to watch movies there.

As a result, many cinema workers have lost their jobs, but on the other hand, film piracy has become more common in the midst of a pandemic. So that this threatens the future of the Indonesian film industry.

Thus, they asked the government to completely eradicate piracy. "We want to survive until this pandemic ends so that we are not left far behind and can immediately continue the pace of the film economy for the sake of Indonesia."

This letter was passed on to the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Midwives, the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment of the Republic of Indonesia, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics, the Indonesian Advanced Cabinet, Unit The task of COVID-19.