Land in Focus presented for first time to London ‘Belkibolang’(2010), the latest film by the production company Babibutafilm, responsible of the most internationally acclaimed Indonesian film in recent years, ‘Blind Pig Who Wants to Fly’ (Edwin, 2008). That work , by the debutant director Edwin, was nominated to the Tiger Award at Rotterdam International Film Festival 2009, and won the FIPRESCI Award in the same festival edition.
Although Edwin’s got his share in this new film, ‘Belkibolang’ is not a one-director movie. ‘Belkibolang’ is the calling card of a new generation of Indonesian filmmakers. Nine short stories by the same scriptwriter, filmed by nine different directors. Each episode gives an impression of modern Indonesia, but each time with an imaginative twist. The film had its European premiere at Rotterdam International Film Festival earlier this year, being part of the strand Bright Future, devoted to reveal the freshest works by the most promising film-making talents around the world.
The screening of the film was followed by a very special music show lead by Indonesian rock player Teguh Santosa. He alternated a selection of his own compositions with some other songs coming from different islands, accompanied by the most distinctive Indonesian voice in London, the singer Evi Sihite. This show was previously supported by the Indonesian pop duo formed by Jessica Kwannandar and Giri Narasoma Suhardi.
Event supported by the Indonesian Embassy in London
With special thanks to film producer Meiske Taurisia, from Babibutafilm.
Film programme:
Umbrella (Payung). Dir: Agung Sentausa / 6’24”
Wahyu is a typical working class man, with tired look. That night rain pours heavily, adds up his hatred to the city, his life and himself. His meeting with Fitri turns the cold night into warm.
Chit Chat (Percakapan Ini). Dir: Ifa Isfansyah / 9’59”
A long conversation between Omen, a chef, and Nuri, his neighbour. A conversation about relationship, choices and motherhood. A conversation without a beginning nor an end.
Mamalia. Dir: Tumpal Tampubolon / 8’27”
Wati looks for an ojek (motorcycle tranportation). She hops in at Maman’s motorcycle and together they looks for an address. Until she ask Maman to stop because something gets into her eyes. She steps down and clean her eyes. Maman thrills. And the rest of the night belongs to Wati.
Planet Elephant (Planet Gajah). Dir: Rico Marpaung / 12’40”
A fortune teller foresees, number 25 and 2010. Nathan sees it as a game, instead for Milli is a sign. Tonight is Nathan’s 25th birthday and the year is 2010, and Milli is not ready to lose Nathan. Finally, they meet to separate in the name of game.
Gecko (Tonek). Dir: Anggun Priambodo / 10’15”
A regular night, with a soap drama series play on the TV. The room is cold by air conditioner. Edwin is busy working with his laptop, while his wife is sleeping tightly.
Suddenly, the electricity puts off. It’s dark and the room starts to heat. His wife sleeps still and Edwin doesn’t know what to do. He listens and enjoys noises from his neighbours making love. A sound of a gecko interrupts him. Soon, the night turns into an unusual night.
Peron. Dir: Azhar Lubis / 8’06”
James always takes train to go back home. He never listens to any sounds except his ipod and always busy with his imaginations of girls at the train station. One day, his ipod broke downs. In front of him, sits a girl who is enjoying the loud and noisy sound in the station. That night, James listens to something that he never hears before.
Ella. Dir: Wisnu Surya Pratama / 7’55”
Tonite is the last day of moslem’ fasting month. Ella is a hooker from Surabaya who lives in Jakarta. She befriends with Pak Gendut, a grilled duck seller from Madura, and share his food stall as her pick up place. That dusk, she returns home as a good girl. However, even a good girl is never perfect, especially Ella.
Roller Coaster. Dir: Edwin / 9’21”
On a lazy day in Jakarta, a boy and a girl decide to seek some thrills. They have been friends for the longest time but have never seen each other fully naked. Today this will change. They go to a seedy motel with no lobby, where cars drive up to a window to check in. Both are giddy with anticipation!
Full Moon. Dir: Sidi Saleh / 11’34”
Bobi is a cab driver who takes his wife for a ride on New Year’s eve, not to celeberate but to express his long deepest will. Isna is the taxi driver’s wife, comes along with his husband and looks for New year’s celebration. However, in a joyful celebration then she hears her husband long deepest will.
The directors:
Agung Sentausa
Agung’s got a BA in Architecture. He made his first feature, ‘Garasi’ (2005), with Miles Production, and he currently is shooting his second feature in Tanjung Pinang, Indonesia.
Ifa Isfansyah
In 2006, he got a scholarship from Im Kwon Taek College, South Korea. That same year he produced his first short ‘Harap tenang, Ada Ujian’ and won the Best Short award at the Indonesian Film Festival. In 2008 he produced his second short, ‘Setengah Sendok Teh’, being in the Tiger Award competition and receiving the Best Asian Short Film award at the Hong Kong Independent Film and Video Festival. His first feature ‘Garuda Di Dadaku’ (2009), was a box office hit in Indonesia. He has also been supported by the Hubert Bals Fund for his coming project ‘Rumah dan Musim Hujan’.
Tumpal Tampubolon
Tumpal is a cinephile-turned-filmmaker, based in Jakarta, Indonesia. He graduated from the Bandung Institute of Technology with a BA in Math. In 2005, his first screenplay ‘The Last Believer’ won the Jakarta International Film Festival (JiFFest) Script Development Competition for Best Short Fiction category. He has written and directed several short films, which were screened in various film festivals. In 2009, Tumpal was selected to attend the Berlinale Talent Campus and in 2010 he was selected to attend the Asian Film Academy in Busan, South Korea. He is currently writing his first feature film screenplay, ‘The Sidewalk Dogs’, with which he has received script development support from JiFFest and Hubert Bals Fund.
Rico Marpaung
Rico, 34, has a BA in Architecture. He is actively involved in many Indonesian films as an art director, and ‘Planet Elephant’ is his first short film as a film director. Currently he is developing a new short film, ‘Copat Copet’.
Anggun Priambodo
Video artist whose work has travelled to many international festivals. He is also interested in filmmaking, especially short films. He participated in ‘9808’, a collective film about Indonesian reforms, which was programmed at several international festivals. Anggun is keen on experiment with the medium, the content and himself.
Azhar Kinoi Lubis
Azhar, 30, graduated from Film School at Jakarta Art Institute. He has made 5 short films to date: ‘Ternyata’, ‘Nico’, ‘Ayahku bukan Orang Gila’, ‘Catatan Ksatria’, ‘Belimbing’ and ‘Peron’ . His last short film, ‘Hari Tua’, is currently in development.
Wisnu Surya Pratama
Wisnu, 32, got his BA in Dutch Literature from the Universitas Indonesia. He works as an assistant director in commercials, however he wants to continue shooting short films. He also participated in the collective film ‘9808’, with his short documentary ‘Kucing 9808, Catatan Seorang (mantan) Demonstran’.
Edwin
‘Roller Coaster’ is Edwin’s eight short film. He is also the director of ‘Blind Pig Who Wants to Fly’, Tiger Competition 2009 at Rotterdam International Film Festival and winner of the FIPRESCI Prize. Currently Edwin is in preparation of his second feature film ‘Postcards from the Zoo’. The director appeared in ‘TAKE 100: The Future of Film, 100 Future Directors’, published by Phaidon Press (2010).
Sidi Saleh
Sidi, 32, received his BA in Cinematography from the Jakarta Art Institute. He has been involved with many local films, including Edwin’s ‘Blind Pig Who Wants to Fly’ (2009). Sidi is one of the motors of the collective film ‘Belkibolang’ and ‘Full Moon’ is his first short as a director.
