"We must admit that despite the COVID-19 pandemic not being fully over, we have seen that all aspects of the national entertainment sector have begun to recover," director of film, music, and media at the ministry’s Directorate General of Culture, Ahmad Mahendra, said.
His statement was read by coordinator of the directorate general's working group for film appreciation and literacy, Edy Suwardi, during the ‘Post-COVID-19 Changes on the Indonesian Film Trends’ webinar on Friday.
The director said that some musicians, such as popular pop music group Kahitna and solo singer Budi Do Re Mi, have participated in musical concerts organized in indoor spaces and attended by thousands of spectators.
"We have seen that live and indoor music concerts have begun to be organized, with attendance reaching hundreds, if not thousands, of spectators. Praise be to God, (those events) were organized safely and smoothly," he noted.
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He then highlighted that the health protocols must continue to be respected during musical concerts that attract huge crowds.
Besides the musical sector, the director also pointed out that the increasing number of visitors to public cinemas during the Eid al-Fitr holiday period has indicated the recovery in the film sector.
"Some films screened as special Eid al-Fitr movies have attracted many viewers to return to movie theatres, and (visitors to movie theatres) are even surging," Mahendra remarked.
The director then expressed the hope that residents who now have enough confidence to enjoy films at movie theatres would motivate Indonesian filmmakers to resume work.
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Translator: Fathur Rochman, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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