The Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF) celebrated its 20th anniversary with a bang, showcasing the best of Asian cinema. This year's event, which wrapped up in Yogyakarta on December 6th, was a resounding success, drawing in over 30,000 attendees! But what were the highlights? Let's dive in.
The coveted Golden Hanoman award, the festival's top prize, went to Polen Ly's "Becoming Human." The jury praised the film for its "lyrical visual poetry" and its tender exploration of memory and loss. "Becoming Human" previously made waves at the Venice Film Festival, and this win solidifies its critical acclaim.
And this is the part most people miss... Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke's "A Useful Ghost," fresh off its Cannes win, secured the Silver Hanoman. The jury lauded its unique blend of humor, emotional depth, and social commentary. A special mention went to Antoinette Jadaone's "Sunshine," recognized for its powerful portrayal of women's lives.
In the Indonesian Screen Awards, Kristo Immanuel's "Better Off Dead/Tinggal Meninggal" dominated, taking home a whopping five awards, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. The film also earned Omara Esteghlal a Best Performance award, with Afiqa Kirana also receiving the same honor for her role in "The Period of Her."
The festival's scope was truly impressive. JAFF featured a staggering 227 films from 43 countries, including 27 world premieres and 87 Indonesian premieres. The event also hosted 47 discussions, forums, and public lectures.
Festival director Ifa Isfansyah highlighted the ongoing challenges in the film industry, particularly concerning the sustainability of the film ecosystem amid rapid technological changes. He emphasized the importance of film archiving initiatives, a crucial step in preserving cinematic history.
But here's where it gets controversial... The festival showcased the works of 34 debut directors and 63 female directors, underscoring its commitment to emerging talent and women filmmakers. This focus on diversity and new voices is a key element of JAFF's mission.
Program director Alexander Matius noted the enthusiastic audience engagement, with Q&A sessions often extending late into the night. Executive director Ajish Dibyo also pointed out the festival's environmental initiatives, including waste management efforts that processed over 1,500 kilograms of waste.
Other notable winners included Whammy Alcazaren's "Water Sports," which won both the Blencong Award and the Students Award for its innovative approach to climate change themes. "Becoming Human" also received the Netpac Award, while "Sunshine" claimed the Geber Award.
Here's a quick recap of the winners:
MAIN COMPETITION
- Golden Hanoman: "Becoming Human" (Polen Ly)
- Silver Hanoman: "A Useful Ghost" (Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke)
- Jury Special Mention: "Sunshine" (Antoinette Jadaone)
BLENCONG AWARD
- Winner: "Water Sports" (Whammy Alcazaren)
- Jury Special Mention for Light of Asia: "Hyena" (Altay Ulan Yang)
INDONESIAN SCREEN AWARDS
- Best Film: "Better Off Dead/Tinggal Meninggal" (Kristo Immanuel)
- Best Director: Kristo Immanuel ("Better Off Dead/Tinggal Meninggal")
- Best Screenplay: Kristo Immanuel and Jessica Tjiu ("Better Off Dead/Tinggal Meninggal")
- Best Cinematography: Vera Lestafa ("Dopamine")
- Best Performance: Omara Esteghlal ("Better Off Dead/Tinggal Meninggal"), Afiqa Kirana ("The Period of Her")
- Best Editing: Ryan Purwoko ("Better Off Dead/Tinggal Meninggal")
- Best Production Design: Ahmad Zulkarnaen and Wahyu Efata ("Ikatan Darah")
- Best Music: Anto Hoed, Melly Goeslaw ("Rangga & Cinta")
- Best Sound Design: Pramudya Adhy Wardhana, Ridho Fachri, Renaldy Lomo, Alexandrie Dolly ("The Period of Her")
- Best Poster: Evan Wijaya and Jozz Felix ("Sore: A Wife From the Future/Sore: Istri Dari Masa Depan")
NETPAC AWARD
- "Becoming Human" (Polen Ly)
GEBER AWARD
- "Sunshine" (Antoinette Jadaone)
STUDENTS AWARD
- "Water Sports" (Whammy Alcazaren)
What do you think? Were there any films you were particularly excited to see? Do you agree with the jury's choices? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
