One of the many things that the COVID-19 pandemic has got us realizing is that we really took film screenings for granted, be it in the cinemas or during thematic film festivals.
If you’re one of those longing to watch films with other people, South Jakarta creative complex M Bloc Space might hold the answer with their screenings of award-winning Indonesian films every Sunday throughout September.
The screenings, titled FFI Layar Tancep at M Bloc Space, are being held as part of the creative complex’s first anniversary celebrations. For this event, M Bloc Space is collaborating with Indonesian Film Festival (FFI) and the Indonesian Open-Air Cinema Association (PLTI).
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEttzZjgeGM/
As the event name suggests, the films will be screened in a layar tancep format, which is an open-air screening concept that was popular in Indonesia in the ‘80s to the ‘90s. Every Sunday this month at 8pm, moviegoers can go and see one Indonesian film, which has either been nominated for or won awards at FFI.
The screenings kicked off yesterday with 1977 drama Yang Muda Yang Bercinta (Young, In Love) by renowned Indonesian filmmaker Sjumandjaja. The film, which was deemed to have “elements of propaganda” from Indonesia’s New Order regime, was first screened to the public in 1993. For her role in the film, actress Yati Octavia won Best Supporting Actress at FFI 1978.
This coming Sunday, you can watch the 1991 religious drama Nada dan Dakwah (Melody and Sermon) by Chaerul Umam, which stars Indonesia’s King of Dangdut Rhoma Irama and late popular preacher KH Zainuddin MZ. The film won Best Original Story and Best Sound Editing, and the two stars were also nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively.
Riri Riza’s 2005 political drama Gie is scheduled for Sept. 20, in which you can see Nicholas Saputra taking the role of young Chinese-Indonesian activist and writer Soe Hok Gie. The film, which tells the story of Gie’s life as a vocal critic of former presidents Soekarno and Soeharto throughout the ‘60s, won Best Picture and Best Actor for Nicholas.
Lastly, M Bloc will screen 2009 comedy flick Jagad X Code (read: Jagad kali cho-day) by Herwin Novianto, which tells the story of three unemployed men who were promised money by a thug if they’re able to find a flashdisk. Slated for Sept. 27, the film was nominated for Best Screenplay and Best Original Music Score for the late actor-musician Djaduk Ferianto.
As the seats are limited, you should reserve your free tickets on Loket.com, which opens on the day of the screening at 3pm. There are several health protocols to adhere to, including temperature check, hand washing, and mandatory face mask. During the screening, the audience must maintain at least 1-meter distance between other visitors, and also required to stay in their seats until the end.
Also Read — Jakarta prepares strict health protocols for imminent cinema reopening
Reader Interactions