2019 Balinale set to return with highly-anticipated films, highlights focus on Indonesian films and filmmakers

File photo of Tony Award winner Jhett Tolentino introducing his documentary at the 2018 Balinale. Photo: Balinale
File photo of Tony Award winner Jhett Tolentino introducing his documentary at the 2018 Balinale. Photo: Balinale

The Bali International Film Festival, more popularly known as Balinale, is set to return for its 13th edition at the end of September with a focus on Indonesian films. 

Running from Sept. 24 to 29 at Cinemaxx Sidewalk Jimbaran, the festival will screen over 90 films from 28 countries, several titles of which might excite the movie buffs among us. 

We won’t lie, we’re pretty excited about some of the featured titles this year. For their opening night event on Sept. 24, the 2019 Balinale will screen The King, which tells the story of England’s King Henry V and starring rising stars Timothée Chalamet and Robert Pattinson. 

While the film first premiered earlier this month at the Venice Film Festival, those catching it at this year’s Balinale will still be among the first to watch it as the movie will only be released in American theaters on October 11 and then onto digital streaming via Netflix on November 1.

Burning, a South Korean film from acclaimed director Lee Chang-dong, is another one to look forward to. The psychological drama scored 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and won the prestigious FIPRESCI Prize at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, among other accolades. 

A poster featuring some of the titles that will screen at the 2019 Balinale. Photo: Balinale
A poster featuring some of the titles that will screen at the 2019 Balinale. Photo: Balinale

With its focus on Indonesian films, the 2019 Balinale is also bringing back two of Indonesia’s biggest films this year – Hanung Bramantyo’s Bumi Manusia (This Earth of Mankind) and Richard Oh’s Perburuan (The Fugitive) – to the big screen. 

“For the thirteenth Balinale, we are focusing on Indonesian films and filmmakers. Our aim here is to provide an opportunity for local artists to share their work with an international audience,” Deborah Gabinetti, founder of the festival, said in a statement. 

A quick look at the program also shows that this year’s Balinale will feature several titles that are specifically focused on the Island of the Gods such as “Bali, Construire L’harmonie” (Bali, Building Harmony), a documentary that investigates the relationship between the Balinese people and their living spaces. 

Tickets to Balinale’s screenings are already on sale. Tickets for general film screenings are IDR 40,000 each while short film screenings, of which there will be 5 to 8 films per screening, are being sold for IDR 20,000 each. You can find more information on Balinale’s official website.

Festival organizers are also offering limited Friend Passes, starting from IDR 250,000, which give festival goers access to their opening and closing night events. 

 

2019 Bali International Film Festival
Sept 24 to 29
Cinemaxx Sidewalk Jimbaran (Main Location) and Cinemaxx Lippo Plaza Sunset
Website

 

Read more news and updates from Bali here.



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