It is a space to celebrate critique, festival, competition, and idea.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Film festival could become a platform to celebrate diversity in the film world, the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry's official stated during an online press conference on Saturday.

In addition, the film festival could spark the artists' spirit, so that they could continue to create despite the pandemic, the ministry's film, music, and new media director, Ahmad Mahendra, noted.

"The emergence of film, art, and culture festivals, especially amid the pandemic, shows that crisis does not diminish the artists' spirit to create," he noted.

"This should be supported by all parties as a form of appreciation to creative work," he affirmed.


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Meanwhile, Jakarta Art Board's (DKJ's) Deputy Chairman, Hikmat Darmawan, stated that the film festival, in addition to being a collective viewing space, could also become a platform to celebrate and laud filmmakers and cinema itself.

"It is a space to celebrate critique, festival, competition, and idea," he elaborated.

The various film festivals in Indonesia are important to be held since a diverse society is certainly keen for varied stories.

"For instance, there was the JAFF (Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival) in Yogyakarta. Some time ago, there was the Jakarta Film Week," Darmawan highlighted.

In addition to these festivals, a variety of other activities were held at a national or global level, he stated.

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"(Film festival) is a space to exchange ideas and information as well as to know one another. It is also a platform to know each other through the audio-visual media that continues to grow and to cultivate collective knowledge," he affirmed.

Echoing this sentiment, Garin Nugroho affirmed that every film festival has its unique characteristic and viewpoint. In addition, he deemed that the film festival could be a platform to showcase obscure films.

"In addition to celebrating and discussing films, the festival also creates a space where all types of film, even obscure ones, are given space to grow," he elaborated.


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Translator: Arnidhya Nur Z, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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