Puan Supporting Ngeri-Ngeri Sedap Who Is Competing In The Oscar Cup, Hopefully, They Can 'Shut Telor'

Tika Panggabean - Arwendi Bening Swara (Imajinari)

JAKARTA - Chairperson of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, supports the film Negeri-Ngeri Sedap who represents Indonesia at the 2023 Academy Awards. He prayed that the Bene Dion film could make achievements in the Oscar Cup competition.

"I congratulate the filmmakers who have worked in total and hopefully the film Negeri Sedap will be able to win awards at the 2023 Oscar Cup," said Puan, Wednesday, September 14.

Seri-Ngeri Sedap is ready to compete for the category of Best International Feature Film awards at the 95th Academy Awards which will be held in March. One of the Oscars nominations is held every year by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences by giving awards to feature films outside the United States.

Indonesia itself has sent representatives in this category since 1987. Nagabonar is the first film to be sent to nominate the Oscar film.

However, until now, Indonesia has never won an award in the Best International Feature Film Academy Awards category. Puan hopes that the film Negeri-Ngeri Sedap can solve Indonesia's history in this prestigious event.

"Moreover, the film Neeri-Ngeri Sedap raises the theme of the family with a Batak cultural background that represents one of the ethnic groups in Indonesia," said the first woman to serve as Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives.

Puan herself is one of the national figures who continue to support the advancement of film in the country. He even played a role in the film Nagabonar Reborn as a cameo.

"The DPR RI is committed to supporting the progress of Indonesian films by competing in international prestigious film competitions," said Puan.

One of the supports provided by the Indonesian House of Representatives for Indonesian cinema is through the budget function, such as the budget allocation of the Eternal Culture Fund called the Indonesian Fund. This program is in accordance with the mandate of Law no. 5 of 2017 and the Strategic Agenda of Culture and Presidential Regulation No. 111 of 2021.

The total principal funds used in the Indonesian Fund amounted to IDR 3 trillion, and those used in 2022 amounted to IDR 185 billion. Puan said that the Indonesian Fund was allocated to support the development of Indonesian arts, culture, and cinema.

"The DPR RI hopes that the Indonesian Fund can encourage the expansion of public access to funding sources to strengthen public involvement in the cultural promotion ecosystem so that Indonesian culture gets recognition so that it can be passed on to the next generation for generations," he said.

The Indonesian funds are also expected to create an inclusive space, encourage community initiatives, document knowledge/maestro, encourage people to create innovative creative works, use public spaces, and strengthen cultural diplomacy.

The world of Indonesian cinema continues to grow, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, filmmakers continue to work and innovate in the midst of the challenges of limiting people's mobility. It is the state's obligation to continue to provide support," said Puan.

The former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture also highlighted how digital platforms become one of the alternative mediums for filmmakers to display their best works. In fact, one of the films by Indonesian filmmakers entitled "Yuni" received the Platform Prize award at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival.

Therefore, Puan assesses that support from all elements of the nation is needed, so that films made by the nation's children can win awards in the international arena.

Of course, it includes support from the community. We must respect the creation of Indonesian filmmakers by watching or accessing them through official or legal channels," said the grandson of the Indonesian Proclaimer Bung Karno.

This is also a means of proof that Indonesia's human resources in the creative industry, the world of film is of superior quality and capable of being competitive at the global level. The DPR RI fully supports the ideas and creative works of the nation's children which are realized through the form of films," concluded Puan.