Karling klub Vukovi

For the first time in Belgrade, on 6th February 2008 a ceremonial opening of the Indonesian Film Festival took place at the Museum of Yugoslav Cinema in Belgrade; the festival lasted until 9th February 2008. The leading cinematography of South Eastern Asia, that has its roots dated back in the 1920’s, was presented by seven movies made in the period between 1961-2007.

The First Festival of the Indonesian Film at the popular Kinoteka marks the beginning of co-operation set to represent a unique cinematography to our cultural public, supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Belgrade and the Association of Serbian-Indonesian Friendship NUSANTARA.

The selection of movies shown included „Suchi Sang Primadona“, „Barbed wire fence“, „Mother“, „Love on a piece of bread “, „Nagabonar becomes two“, „Anne Van Yogya“ and „The theatre by the river“.

The Indonesian cinematography started back in 1926 when, within then-Dutch colony the conditions to make a silent movie were first created. Although signed by the two Dutch authors, the film was produced by a local company and it was showing in the island cinemas. The movie’s title was „Loetoeng Kasaroeng“, and it was first shown on 31st December at the exclusive cinema venue called Bandung.

As Mr. Dinko Tucakovic, Director of the Museum of Yugoslav Cinema said, this movie represented the foundation for the film industry, which in about eight decades produced over 2200 films.

„The following stages in the history of Indonesian cinematography were the propaganda events during Japanese occupation and after the declaration of independence, the films made during the eras of Sukarno, and later Suharto were representing the large picture of the political turmoil in the country, actually a sort of an isolation and the strict censorship code. Still, the film industry developed unstoppably and reached its peak during the 1980’s, when the annual volume of production exceeded one hundred movie titles.

The new crisis started during 1990’s when Indonesian cinematography marked a sharp fall in production and popularity, “Tucakovic pointed out.

As the Director indicated, in the new millennium situation has been normalised and Indonesian films mark record viewing at the local cinemas, and the part of the production is turned directly to television, i.e. DVD market.

The world famous International Film Festival in Jakarta is a reputable event contributing to promotion and affirmation of cinematic art.

More info on the First Festival of the Indonesian Film may be found at www.kinoteka.org.rs and www.indonesia-bgd.org.