HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY FIVE SCREENINGS AT JAFF19

EMBRACING AUTHENTICITY THROUGH  SALAM GEMBIRA

The fifth day of JAFF19 featured the international premiere of  Salam Gembira, a Singaporean film directed by Dzul Sungit. The screening took place yesterday at Studio 4 Empire XXI in Jogja. This dramedy is set in the Netherlands and tells the story of Moe, a Muslim man from Singapore who lives secretly with his girlfriend. To keep his devoutly religious parents from finding out during their unexpected visit, Moe pretends to share a home with his gay male friend.

Dzul independently financed this project, which bravely explores sensitive themes. Despite the risks, he was thrilled with the audience’s positive response. He hopes the film encourages viewers to remain true to themselves, even when this contradicts society’s or family’s expectations.

One audience member at the premiere praised the film for its warmth and relatability, given its delicate subject matter. “It was heartwarming. I never expected a movie addressing taboo topics to resonate so deeply with my culture,” they shared.

SHEDDING LIGHT ON DUAL PERSONALITY ISSUES IN “AKU TAK MEMBENCI HUJAN” SPECIAL SCREENING

As part of the special screening program at JAFF19, the VIU-produced series Aku Tak Membenci Hujan was showcased to an eager audience. Adapted from the popular Wattpad novel by Sri Puji Hartini and directed by Adhe Dhamastriya, the series explores essential mental health issues, particularly dissociative identity disorder (DID). To fully embrace his role, lead actor Jeff Smith immersed himself in extensive research, conversing with psychologists and individuals living with similar conditions.

“One takeaway from this series is how parents’ emotional management significantly shapes a child’s personality, as it reflects their own experiences,” remarked a viewer of Aku Tak Membenci Hujan.

The first episode’s premiere at JAFF19 wrapped up with an interactive Q&A session featuring the cast. Many attendees, who were dedicated fans of the series actors, made the journey to JAFF19 specifically for the debut of Aku Tak Membenci Hujan. Follow the journey of KARANG (played by Jeff Smith) as he faces his past traumas and strives for his mother’s love in this eight-episode series, set to premiere on 9 December 2024, exclusively on the VIU app.

Don’t miss out on the selected films at JAFF19, which runs until 7 December 2024. For more updates, check out @jaffjogja on social media or visit the official website at jaff-filmfest.org.