For 11 years the annual Jakarta International Film Festival, or JiFFest, has played an important role in rekindling Indonesia’s interest in quality cinema. The event’s discussions and workshops have also provided a platform for young Indonesian filmmakers to explore new horizons and meet big names in the industry.
So the industry was dismayed last week when organizers said that this year’s event, scheduled to run from Nov. 27 to Dec. 3, may have to be canceled because of a funding crisis. Organizers have been forced to launch a public appeal for donations to keep it afloat.
So the industry was dismayed last week when organizers said that this year’s event, scheduled to run from Nov. 27 to Dec. 3, may have to be canceled because of a funding crisis. Organizers have been forced to launch a public appeal for donations to keep it afloat.
“We don’t have enough money,” JiFFest manager Nauval Yazid said. “If by October 31 we cannot raise enough to hold the festival, we deeply regret we may have to cancel it indefinitely.”
Festival founder Shanty Harmayn said they needed at least $200,000 to run the weeklong festival and had so far raised just half that amount.
JiFFest was launched in 1999 and has over the years gained a reputation for quality and creativity. It has been praised for waking the country’s film industry from a deep slumber.
When JiFFest debuted in Jakarta, Asian countries such as Singapore and South Korea already had international-scale film festivals.
The Singapore International Film Festival was already 12 years old and the Busan International Film Festival in South Korea was in its third year. Thailand and the Philippines started their festivals around the same time as Indonesia. The Bangkok International Film Festival was first held in September 1998 and Manila’s Cinemanila International Film Festival was launched in July 1999.
Unlike music and sports events, it is difficult to obtain sponsorship for film, art or cultural events from big corporations such as tobacco companies. With limited financial support from the government, and the withdrawal of backing from a major international sponsor two years ago, JiFFest organizers have been struggling to keep the festival afloat.
“It’s hard keeping the festival going every year,” Shanty said. “We started out as a very small-scale event and grew. Up until last year, JiFFest had screened almost 1,500 films from more than 40 countries.”
To highlight the financial problems JiFFest is facing, Shanty detailed the funding the festival received.
“About 60 percent of the budget has come from foreign funding, 20 percent from sponsorships, 10 percent from local government and the rest from ticket sales,” she said.
Referring to the Busan International Film Festival, where 60 percent of the funding is covered by the government, Shanty said that ideally the government should cover most of the expenses of running such an event.
She said the amount required to run the JiFFest was small compared with the $3 million to $4 million it cost to run the Busan festival.
For many, JiFFest is more than just a series of films for audiences to watch. For Indonesian filmmakers, it is an opportunity to connect with their local and foreign counterparts. Over the years, numerous big names in the international film industry have attended and presented workshops.
War photographer and documentary maker James Nachtwey, renowned Korean director Kim Jong-seok, influential Iranian filmmaker in Iran Jafar Panahi and Malaysian film director and producer Amir Muhammad are just some of the people who have shared their thoughts and enthusiasm at the festival.
Besides film screenings, the festival runs a series of discussions and workshops for aspiring scriptwriters and directors.
Lucky Kuswandi is an emerging film director whose feature film debut, “Madame X,” is showing in cinemas. He is scheduled to lead a script-writing workshop at this year’s festival.
“When I first arrived in Jakarta after I finished school in the US, I knew nobody in the film industry,” Lucky said. Through JiFFest he has met some of Indonesia’s biggest names in the industry, such as Nia Dinata, Mira Lesmana and Joko Anwar.
“It’s sad if they really have to cancel the festival,” Lucky said. He hoped the government would come up with the cash because the festival not only promoted the Indonesian film industry but also Jakarta as a cultural hub.
“Ticket prices for JiFFest are a lot cheaper than they are for similar festivals in foreign countries,” he said. This meant that the cost of bringing the films to Indonesia could not be recouped from ticket sales.
The ticket price for a JiFFest film screening is about the same one would pay at the cinema, and some of the films are even shown for free. Shanty said they kept ticket prices low so all movie buffs could afford to enjoy the films.
Despite promised support from the Jakarta administration, the festival organizers still have to pay an entertainment tax on each ticket sold.
“Even for free screenings we have to pay the tax. We have to allocate Rp 500 for each ticket to pay for the tax,” Nauval said. “With our struggle every year to keep this festival going, we’ve realized it’s not easy trying to do a good deed for the city.”
Nauval said there were many ways a cultural festival could boost a city’s economy and development.
“Take the Sundance Film Festival,” he said. “The festival, initially named the Utah Film Festival, brought improvements for local residents such as new roads and infrastructure.” South Korea’s Busan wasn’t internationally known before its film festival. Thanks to the annual event in the small port city, resorts were built and more tourists started flocking to the area.
Nauval said Berlin was a different story. Taxpayers footed the bill and the festival organizer was therefore obliged to account for how the money was spent.
“I don’t know the exact figures that are involved, but it’s apparent that the city fully supports the festival and that the public enthusiastically participates in it,” he said.
Nauval said he hoped the public would heed the call for donations, with people realizing the importance of their participation in improving Jakarta’s image. “It’s a good education for all us,” he said. “When you make a donation, it doesn’t always mean you see the benefits right away. It’s a long-term investment to reap a long-term reward.
“When you contribute you won’t get free tickets to the festival but you will be contributing to the city.”
Nauval quoted Sundance founder Robert Redford, who said: “Storytellers broaden our minds: engage, provoke, inspire and ultimately connect us.”
“It is time for us to see if Jakarta will give storytellers a chance,” Nauval said.
“Keeping the festival is our long-term investment for the city. The donations are for a good cause.”
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