JAKARTA - The government wants to encourage the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival or JAFF to be upgraded. The film festival that grew out of Yogyakarta is aimed at becoming an entry point for Indonesian films into the international market.
Minister of Culture Fadli Zon discussed the plan with the Yogyakarta Film Foundation at the Ministry of Culture's office, Jakarta, Monday, May 4. The meeting highlighted the strengthening of JAFF Market as a meeting place for Indonesian film makers with the global industry.
Fadli said Indonesia needed a stable film market so that it could perform stronger abroad. According to him, JAFF already has the capital to become Indonesia's face at international forums.
"International cooperation must also be displayed at JAFF. We must be confident that JAFF is already worthy of being an international showcase," said Fadli.
The Ministry of Culture will send official invitations to China, France, Saudi Arabia, and Russia to open pavilions at the JAFF Market. The government also prepares a roadmap for the development of JAFF to be in line with national policies.
The move is considered important because the Indonesian film industry is attracting the attention of foreign markets. South Korea is said to be actively looking for co-production partners, with Indonesia as one of the main destinations.
Director of the JAFF Festival, Ifa Isfansyah, said JAFF also strengthened film literacy, including through the JAFF Kids program. According to Ifa, festivals, markets, and communities must go hand in hand so that the film ecosystem not only lives in the production space, but also in the audience.
"Through festivals, markets, and communities, JAFF is expected to contribute to building a progressive film ecosystem," said Ifa.
Fadli also highlighted the potential for investment in the film sector, including China's interest in the cinema screen business. The Ministry of Culture is preparing the use of state assets to support this industry.
One of them is by turning the theater at the National Museum of Indonesia into a modern cinema with a capacity of 237 seats with Dolby Surround technology.
The meeting was also attended by the Ministry of Culture and representatives of the Yogyakarta Film Foundation.
For the government, strengthening JAFF is not just about the festival. The challenge is in the consistency of the market, international networks, and Indonesia's ability to sell its film works with a stronger bargaining position.
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