Bali International Film Festival (Balinale) kicks off its 16th edition from Thursday, 1 June until Sunday, 4 June 2023 bringing together a diverse group of acclaimed filmmakers and prominent professionals from the film, entertainment, and creative industries to celebrate cinema.
Balinale showcases the finest Indonesian and International movies.
Over our 4-day event will present forty-five films from thirteen countries at Park23 Creative Hub Cinema XXI, Tuban Kuta, Bali. Several of these films are world, Asian, and international premieres. Opening Balinale is A Guilty Conscience directed by Jack Ng. actor, Dee Ho, will be at the festival to present the film.
Notable films include Sisu from Finland, directed by Jalmari Helander; Klondike from Ukraine, directed by Maryna Er Gorbach; Where the Wind Blows from Hong Kong, directed by Philip Yung; and Women Talking from the United States, directed by Sarah Polley.
In competition 2023
In 2023, the festival’s juried competition will present awards in several artistic and technical categories: Narrative Features, Documentaries, and Short Films.
Short Narrative
1. Witness: Iran, Islamic Republic, Directed by Aida Tebianian
2. Kama (An Eternity): Indonesia, Directed by Esra Desvita Siagian 3. Playground: United States, Directed by Yaxing Lin
4. Shut: Netherlands, Directed by Niels Bourgonje
5. Please Hold the Line: Malaysia, Directed by Tan Ce Ding
6. Las Visitantes: Spain, Directed by Enrique Buleo
Short Documentary
1. Lolitha: Indonesia, Directed by Azalia Muchransyah
2. Behind the Seen: Indonesia, Directed by Robin Gurney & Lawrence Blair
3. 50 Years Around the Sun: United States, Directed by Wyatt Daily
4. Forgotten: Indonesia, Directed by Roberto Natali
5. Under Your Feet: Indonesia, Directed by A.J. Kelly
6. The Spider Whisperer: Indonesia, Directed by Amélie Jaya
7. Achewiq, the Song of the Brave Women: France, Algeria, Directed by Elina Kastler
Feature Documentary
1. Crows are White: Ireland, Directed by Ahsen Nadeem
2. The Tone Wheels: Indonesia, Directed by Yuda Kurniawan 3. Turn Every Page: United States, Directed by Lizzie Gottlieb 4. Big Wave Guardians: United States, Directed by Luke Stirtz
Feature Narrative
1. Sisu: Finland, Directed by Jalmari Helander
2. Klondike: Ukraine, Directed by Maryna Er Gorbach
3. Where the Wind Blows: Hong Kong, Directed by Philip Yung
4. Women Talking: United States, Directed by Sarah Polley
Full film listing can be found on festival website: https://www.balinale.com/festival-2023/ Nuclear Now Premiere Announcement
We are thrilled to announce that Balinale has been given the Asian Premier of director Oliver Stone’s Nuclear Now. This powerful documentary investigates climate change and explores the possibility for the global community to move away from fossil fuels and overcome the challenges of energy poverty through the power of nuclear energy.
“I’m most happy to see our film, Nuclear Now, showing at the Bali International Film Festival. It’s our hope that the film is eventually seen by a wide audience throughout Indonesia– one of the most crucial countries for nuclear energy and humanity’s upcoming race against time.” — Oliver Stone said on his selecting Balinale to premiere the film.
Special Programs
Balinale’s creative partnership Art of the Score brings together The Juilliard School’s Center for Innovation in the Arts creative collaborations between Juilliard student musicians and composers and student filmmakers from Indonesia. Gadis dan Penatu, director Alam Alghifari, A Batik Shawl, director Nada Leo Prakasa Art of the Score 2022 Selection: Asa, director Prisca Devani, Now (Here), director Noah Tehusijarana, and Sunday, director Ezra Cecio. The third annual AICEF Prize for Cross Cultural Filmmaking with USA’s American–Indonesian Cultural & Educational Foundation 2023 Winner Orpa director Theo Rumansara along with the 2022 USA selection Pasang: In the Shadow of Everest director Nancy Svendsen.
Making Waves – Navigators of Hong Kong Cinema 2023 supported by CreateHK, Hong Kong International Film Festival Society, and Hong Kong Economic Trade Office (HKETO), Jakarta showcases The Sparring Partner director Ho Cheuk-Tin, Sunny Side of the Street director Lau Kok-rui, Cyber Heist director Wong Hing Fan, and A Guilty Conscience director Jack Ng, all presented by the filmmaker. Other films featured: Vital Sign director Vincci Cheuk, Mad Fate director Soi Cheang, and Where the Wind Blows director Philip Yung, also in competition.
Festival Pass
Tickets are available through our Townscript page. Our festival website — www.balinale.com — has up- to-date detailed information about movie titles and showtimes.
Balinale 2023 Jury Members
Michela Scolari, an award-winning Italian filmmaker; Richard Todd, an Australian documentary filmmaker; Jason Allan Neal, general manager, Original Content and Innovation at Fremantle Indonesia; Djenar Maesa Ayu, award-winning Indonesian filmmaker, writer, and director; Jomon (Joe) Thomas, producer with a commercially successful cache of critically acclaimed films.
Michela Scolari, Italian filmmaker, producer, activist, Ph.D. Film and Theatre Scholar collaborating on Oscar-winning movies and shows with Giuseppe Tornatore, Terry George, Roland Joffé, David Lynch, Adam Leipzig, Umberto Eco, Robbie Little, and many others. Awarded at the Cannes Film Festival with “Lady of the Year 2021” by The World Peace and Tolerance Institute.
Richard Todd, Australian documentary filmmaker producing provocative factual films that have a positive impact on people, society, and the environment. Dying to Live, and Frackman awarded in Australia and at Doc NYC, BOFA, Human Rights Film Fest Toronto, New York and London, and Balinale. God Made Them Blind and Whaleshark-Gypsy of the Deep, winner of the IFF Rolex Grand Prix French Maritime Film Festival. Recipient of Australasian Underwater Cameraman of the Year; ScreenWest New Producer Fellowship.
Jason Allan Neal, General Manager of Original Content and Innovation — Fremantle Indonesia. With a career spanning nearly three decades and a background in producing, writing, editing, and development, Jason has worked in Indonesia, the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia. Jason has an extensive and impressive list of credits that include projects with Fox, AXN, HBO, STAR World, MSNBC, PBS, USA Networks, Netflix, Lifetime, BET, Fine Living, Spotify, MTV, and Amazon Prime.
Djenar Maesa Ayu, published award-winning author and has produced, written, and directed five feature films. They Say, I’m a Monkey! won a Citra Award and a Special Jury Mention for Best New Director, Indonesian Film Festival, TEMPO Awards for Best Film and Best Director. NAY, won NETPAC Award for Best Asian Feature Film, Jogja NETPAC Asian Film Festival, and her first short, TRIS won Best Picture & Favorite Short Film at Melbourne IFF Short Film Competition. Her recent work Look at Me Touch Me Kiss Me with Ho Yuhang (Malaysia) and Kim Tai-Sik (South Korea), was screened at Busan International Film Festival and Jogja NETPAC Asian Film Festival.
Jomon (Joe) Thomas, producer (P.G.A) and executive producer on Poker Face, stars Russell Crowe in his second directorial feature. Producer of the shorts Roborovski, which won Best Animation, Flickerfest International Short Film Festival, and Home Shopper nominated for Short Film Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. Hotel Mumbai premiered at TIFF and won at AACTA for Best Editing. Damascus Cover won at the Boston Film Festival and Manchester International Film Festival and The Man Who Knew Infinity. Joe is currently in post-production on Monkey Man starring Dev Patel in his directorial debut.
Special notes to Editors
- 1 All non-English language films will have English subtitles.
- 2 All Hong Kong films will have Indonesian subtitles.
- 3 All festival activities can be found on festival website: www.balinale.com and at Townscript
- 4 Social media sites: Instagram and Facebook
- 5 For photos and images, go to our Flickr
More Info: Balinale T: + 62 (0) 361 270 908 / W: www.balinale.com / E: press@balinale.com
Background
Bali International Film Festival (Balinale)
Bali International Film Festival (Balinale) established in 2007, is recognized internationally for its programming of global independent and Indonesian cinema. Balinale is known for its significant promotion of Indonesian film and continuing development of the country’s creative industries through global industry events, film associations, and established professional affiliations. Balinale invites foreign filmmakers to explore Indonesia for potential co-production opportunities. Balinale is endorsed by the national and provincial governments for its proven efforts in delivering cultural, civic, and economic benefits to the country.
Bali Film Center
Bali Film Center (BFC) is a private organization committed to promoting Indonesia as a film location and production center for international projects. Being at the forefront of generating filming throughout the country since 2002, the company facilitates an impressive array of film, television, print, and serial productions. BFC has an extensive network and in-depth knowledge of the industry. BFC is recognized by the national and provincial governments for effectively promoting Indonesia’s creative individuals,industries, and diverse destinations.
source: https://asianmoviepulse.com/2023/06/bali-international-film-festival-announce-lineup-and-more-details/