This month, on 14 November, Jakarta will roll out the red carpet for the 2023 Indonesian Film Festival (FFI), held at Museum Nasional. The official list of nominees for this year’s event has already been announced, and the festival promises to be an unmissable experience for visitors to the capital.
This year will be the 43rd iteration of the FFI, which is organised by the Indonesian Film Agency and the Indonesian Ministries of Education and Culture, and Research and Technology. The Awards are divided into 22 categories, including Best Feature Film, Best Short Documentary Film, Best Director, Best Male / Female Lead and Best Supporting Actor.
The full list of nominees was announced a month ahead of the main event, on 14 October at the National Museum of Indonesia in Jakarta – part of a show co-hosted by the Chair of the 2021-2023 FFI Committee, Reza Rahadian, and FFI ambassadors Christine Hakim, Lukman Sardi, Laura Basuki, Putri Marino and Chicco Kurniawan.
Following the announcement of the nominations, Indonesian Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Nadiem Makarim, commented on the impressive range of cultural products on show at the event, and the power of film to impact other sectors.
“Apart from the increasing number of films by Indonesian filmmakers who have made proud achievements on the international stage,” began the minister, “the use of the National Museum of Indonesia to read out the candidates for this year’s FFI award winners is an important step to support efforts to transform Indonesian museums and cultural heritage,” he added.
For the first time, FFI 2023 will also feature the Long Story Film category, which is adjudicated by the FFI 2023 Citra Academy; an organisation comprising filmmakers who have received the prestigious Citra Cup award in previous years. A total of 69 Citra Academy members combined their knowledge and experience between 23 September to 8 October this year, in order to choose the overall winner of this year’s award.
Judging for the other categories is managed by a range of professional associations and experts from around the Indonesian film industry, including Coordination for Film Festivals in Indonesia (COFFIE), the Indonesian Documentarists Association (ADN), the Indonesian Animation Industry Association (AINAKI) and the Indonesian Association of Movie Reviewers (KAFEIN).
For international visitors to Jakarta this November, FFI 2023 presents an unmissable opportunity to explore the nation’s film industry, rub shoulders with its stars on the red carpet and get an insight into stories from all over the archipelago.
