Jogja-Netpac Film Festival Unveils 254-Film Lineup for 21st Edition

By Daniel Okafor

The 21st Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival will screen 254 films from 34 countries, running Nov. 28–Dec. 5 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, under the theme "Influx." Lawrence Fajardo's Filipino drama "Silenced Nights" opens; Ueda Makoto's Japanese comedy-drama "You Are the Film" closes.

"Silenced Nights," which bowed at Toronto, gets its Indonesian premiere on opening night. "You Are the Film" picked up the White Raven Award at this year's Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival. A festival bookended by a Toronto premiere and a Brussels prize-winner. That's a statement of intent.

"In line with the theme 'Influx,' this year JAFF wants to look at how currents of change affect our lives and the way we understand one another," festival president Budi Irawanto said. "Amid a social climate full of uncertainty and instability, cinema gives us the chance to listen to different experiences and see issues from other perspectives."

Who's competing for the Hanoman Awards?

Ten features vie for the Golden and Silver Hanoman Awards. Dita Gambiro, Riar Rizaldi and Shan Zuolong sit on the jury. Two contenders are first features from women filmmakers, and both arrive decorated.

• China's "A Girl Unknown," directed by Zou Jing, won the Fipresci Prize in Cannes' Critics' Week this year.
• Singapore's "Ah Girl," from Priscilla Ang Geck Geck, took the Youth Jury Award at Rotterdam; its lead actress won the Firebird Award for best actress at the Hong Kong International Film Festival.

The rest of the main competition: Sompot Chidgasornpongse's "9 Temples to Heaven," Jeremias Nyangoen's "Black Coffee," Kawajiri Masanao's "Cherry and Virgin," Aung Phyoe's "Fruit Gathering," Lê Bảo's "Hearing," Arvin Belarmino's "Ria" and Mejbaur Rahman Sumon's "Roid."

At home, 10 Indonesian films compete in the Indonesian Screen Awards across 10 categories, from best film and director through to original music and poster design. Eddie Cahyono's "Ibuku" claimed the Busan Award Special Jury Prize at the 31st Busan International Film Festival. Ravi Bharwani's "Secrets" will world premiere in Yogyakarta. Ferdinand Almi's "Shattered Vows," Ariani Darmawan's "Jani Be Good" and Andrew Kose's "Mate's Rate" round out the field, with Sharifah Amani, Tanigaki Kenji and Yoon Ga-eun judging.

Shorts get their own arena. Light of Asia presents 21 titles competing for the Blencong Awards. The Netpac Awards consider only debut and sophomore features. Viewers vote too, through the new Amar Bank Audience Choice Award.

What else is new this year?

The JAFF Awards will recognize individuals, communities and institutions sustaining Asian cinema through production, financing, archiving, exhibition and knowledge-sharing. Gelanggang Inovasi dan Kreativitas (GIK) UGM serves as venue partner for the awards.

"JAFF was born from a community spirit, and over two decades we have seen how a single encounter can open the way for a film's or a filmmaker's journey," festival director Ifa Isfansyah said. "The JAFF Awards come from the same belief: that Asian cinema grows through the work of many connected people."

Outside competition, Panorama gathers 12 features and five shorts from leading Asian directors: Hamaguchi Ryusuke's "All of a Sudden," Lav Diaz's "Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors," Hur Jin-ho's "The Assassin(s)," Yoon Dan-bi's "The World Before," Edmund Yeo's "The Age of Goodbyes" and John Torres' "The Remotes." Asian Perspectives offers 26 features and 28 shorts. The Indonesian Film Showcase has five local features.

The 15-title Rewind strand revisits three Studio Ghibli classics from Miyazaki Hayao — "Spirited Away," "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Howl's Moving Castle" — alongside Kurosawa Kiyoshi's "Cure," Yeon Sang-ho's "Train to Busan" and Yasmin Ahmad's "Mukhsin." Two 2000s Indonesian teen romances return: Nasri Cheppy's "Eiffel…I'm in Love" (2003) and Hanny R. Saputra's "Heart" (2006).

"Asian cinema keeps moving forward through new voices, a willingness to experiment with form, and stories that stay close to people's lives," program director Alexander Matius said. "We put together this year's program to bring that diversity to audiences, including opening new conversations through films we already know."

The Cinematic Concert, back after four previous editions, pairs Grrrl Gang's live performance with scenes from five festival shorts.

Sponsors shape several strands. Amar Bank presents Undercurrent, screening Rafael Manuel's "Filipiñana" and Kimura Taichi's "Fujiko" — the latter a winner of Udine's Golden Mulberry Award and the New York Asian Film Festival's Uncaged Award for best feature. Cinema XXI returns as main venue partner at Empire XXI Yogyakarta, backing JAFF Kids and the Inclusive Screening strand. TikTok Film Circle pairs TikTok creators from Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam with professional critics in an analysis workshop. The Asian Film Awards Academy co-presents five Hong Kong titles in the Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation.

The industry side runs Nov. 28–30 at the Jogja Expo Center: JAFF Market hosts six programs, including JAFF Future Project, JAFF IP Connection, Talent Day, the Film & Market Conference, Market Screening and Film Lab.

JAFF21 is backed by Indonesia's Ministry of Culture through its Dana Indonesia Raya program. Tickets go on sale via TipTip from Nov. 21.