Bali, Indonesia [18 October 2018] – Balinale – Bali International Film Festival moves forward in preparation for next year’s event. Having wrapped the 12th installment in September, Festival Founder Deborah Gabinetti will now be representing the Festival in attending several overseas industry events in the following months, beginning with Tokyo International Film Festival in October.
While in Tokyo, Gabinetti will take part in the Film Programmers Conference for Networking of SEA and Japan, where she will be presenting Balinale’s recent activities. Participants include other Festival programmers from Southeast Asia. The Conference will discuss developing international collaboration and expanding partnerships within the region.
Representing the Asian Film Commissions Network, Gabinetti will also be participating in the American Film Market in California at the end of October, attending a series of industry conferences.
On a local level, Balinale has partnered with the upcoming Ubud Readers and Writers Festival to bring two films, Nokas (2010) directed by Erik Skjoldbjærg and Chaplin in Bali (2017) directed by Raphäel Millet. Both movies won the Balinale 2017 Jury Award and Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary respectively.
Balinale continues to establish itself as a key player in promoting Indonesian cinema, art, and culture, as well as contributing to the growth of the Indonesian film and television industry. Involvement in these events will bring exposure to Balinale and the Indonesian potential on a local, regional and global stage, giving additional expertise to Indonesian talent.
Festival Recap
Balinale concluded its 12th year on a high note, bringing a record number of 94 filmmakers in attendance and 45 Indonesian films among the 105 in its diverse program. Local filmmakers represented over half of the filmmakers attending. The Festival was held 24 – 30 September across two Cinemaxx Theaters venues, Lippo Mall Kuta and Plaza Renon. Academy Award-nominated director Roland Joffé was present throughout the Festival, enjoying local and international stories along with 9,000 Festival guests.
The Festival’s annual BalinaleX Industry Forum on 23 September brought together nearly 90 filmmakers, investors, and industry professionals from around the world to discuss the potential in local stories and opportunities for co-production.
A number of films featured in Balinale 2018 has been nominated for the 2018 Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA). The Closing Night Film, Hirokazu Koreeda’s Shoplifters (Japan) has received three nominations including Best Screenplay, along with Balinale Festival Friend Lee Chang-dong’s Burning (Korea). Shoplifters is also competing for the Best Feature Film Award.
One of Balinale’s documentaries in competition, Talal Derki’s Of Fathers and Sons (Syrian Arab Republic, Lebanon, Qatar, Germany), has been nominated for Best Documentary Feature Film. On Happiness Road (Taiwan) which screened during the Festival’s Children’s Program has been nominated for Best Animated Feature Film. Finally, Indonesia’s Garin Nugroho is on the running for the Cultural Diversity Award Under Patronage of UNESCO, for Memories of My Body (Kucumbu Tubuh Indahku).
Roland Joffé in Indonesia
Balinale Special Guest Roland Joffé received Balinale’s first Bali Taksu Award for his inspired creativity in exposing audiences to worlds and cultures beyond their own. This was presented by Ibu Tri Suswati Tito Karnavian.
Having been present throughout the Festival, Joffé provided constructive feedback regarding the Indonesian films he has seen. He pointed out the apparent struggle of Indonesia wrestling with its history and figuring out how to tell their story in a voice that is uniquely their own. He also noted the “certain visual lushness” in these movies and acknowledged that Indonesia is certainly catching up with technology, as seen through impressive cinematography.
Joffé extended his stay in Indonesia after Balinale. Together with a team from Bali Film Center, he went scouting for filming locations in East Java to further develop his latest project telling the story of Mata Hari.
The director expressed his enjoyment being in Indonesia, saying that the country “embodies everything that is rather beautiful about South East Asia, with its own particular spice.” Though back in London, he will return to Indonesia in the near future to move this project forward.