Jakarta World Cinema to Revive First Feature Competition Next Year
The Indonesian festival will reopen the category to filmmakers worldwide and recruit an international jury, director Shandy Gasella told Variety.
Jakarta World Cinema will bring back its First Feature Competition next year, opening the category to filmmakers worldwide and judging it with an international jury, according to Variety. The festival did not accept submissions for the competition at this year's edition.
The category had been put on hold because organizers struggled to assemble an international jury. Festival director Shandy Gasella told Variety that previous editions had only Indonesian judges. The festival now aims to recruit international jury members with strong filmographies so the competition can take submissions from around the world.
This year's edition has 102 theatrical titles out of a total program of 207. Programming director Daniel Irawan said the goal for next year is to expand the lineup and keep working with the main venue, CGV Grand Indonesia, to increase audience capacity.
The short film competition ran in June and drew more than 300 entries. All 30 competition titles and 20 non-competition titles on the shortlist will screen during the festival, with the best short film and audience choice winners announced on closing day. The best short film winner will receive full funding from KlikFilm for the production and distribution of a debut feature.
The Jakarta edition closes on Nov. 7. The same program then travels to Bandung World Cinema and Malang World Cinema, running Nov. 14–21.
Quick answers
When will the First Feature Competition return to Jakarta World Cinema?
It is planned to return next year, with submissions open to filmmakers worldwide and an international jury.
When does the Jakarta edition of the festival close?
The Jakarta edition closes on Nov. 7.
What does the best short film winner receive?
Full funding from KlikFilm for the production and distribution of a debut feature.