Jakarta (ANTARA) - Official from the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry's Film, Music, and Media Directorate Marlina Yulianti underscored the importance of support for the local film community.

"This support from the government is expected to be able to strengthen capacity building for the local film and filmmaker community," Yulianti noted during an online discussion, quoted on Friday.

The government provides support to culture and art actors, including those in the film industry, which had been realized by unveiling the Merdeka Belajar Episode Eighteen: Merdeka Berbudaya dengan Dana Indonesiana.

"Through this Indonesiana for film, we wish to encourage filmmakers to learn from other professional filmmakers. The primary goal is to create a local story that can penetrate the international market," Yulianti affirmed.

"In addition, (they will be able) to learn about scenario writing and cinematography. As a result, they will be able to package, expose, and market our local films to be introduced in the international market," she stated.

Moreover, the ministry has initiated several other programs, she noted.

These programs comprise short film competition, story writing training with the international film academy, related parties' collaboration, and support local film showing on public platform.

Moreover, Yulianti also noted that the Dana Abadi Kebudayaan (Culture Eternal Fund) exists to ensure that the funding allocated each year does not run out by the end of the year.

This is because the funding can be deposited into a saving.

"Hence, this is the philosophy behind why the Dana Abadi Kebudayaan was created. In addition, it provides continuous support for cultural activities, not just stop and go," Finance Minister Sri Mulyani noted on Wednesday.

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Earlier, Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Minister Nadiem Makarim also stated that Dana Indonesiana, as Dana Abadi Kebudayaan, is proof that the government supports freedom in culture along with the people.

In 2020 and 2021, the Finance Ministry had allocated a budget of around Rp3 trillion managed by Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) as Dana Abadi Kebudayaan.

Next year, the budget is expected to increase to Rp5 trillion.

From the total budget of Rp3 trillion managed by LPDP, Mulyani noted that within two years, the funding had yielded a profit of Rp200 billion.

Related news: Ministry holds short film workshop in Mandalika to support creativity

Translator: Arnidhya Nur Z, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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