Creativity Within Constraints: JAFF20 Highlights the Long-Term Potential of Short Films

On its fourth day, JAFF20 spotlighted several highlights on short films, which hold an essential place in the film industry. Short films, with their inherently experimental spirit, often carry cultural values unbound by restrictive conventions. At the twentieth edition of the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (JAFF), these works are celebrated across various programs, including the Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation.

The collaboration between JAFF20 and the Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA) presents a compilation of four short films in the Short Films Compilation program, screened on the festival’s fourth day. Audiences were invited to experience a lineup of works: AI Niente (Lo Lam, 2023), In The Midst of the Ocean (Stephanie Kay, 2018), The Apple of My Eye (Ivan Cheung, 2024), and Tomatoes Are Poisonous (Ivan Cheung, 2024). Director Ivan Cheung, who attended the screening, expressed his delight at the positive reception toward his two films, both created under significant production constraints.

Continuing its commitment, JAFF20 and Vidio hosted the Special Vidio Talks: Film Pendek on the festival’s second day to support the growth of short films. This special program reflects Vidio’s ongoing support for emerging Indonesian filmmakers, including through the Vidio Film Competition—which has drawn more than 700 participants. Carrying the theme “Short Film: A Laboratory of Ideas, Creativity, and Stories of the Future,” the competition offers production funding and mentorship. It aims to spotlight how simple ideas can evolve into impactful works that shape the future of Indonesian cinema. This year’s mentors include Khozy Rizal, Mira Lesmana, and Yandy Laurens.

Khozy Rizal, who began his filmmaking journey through the short film Annisa (2018), shared his non-linear path into the industry. Despite his interest in cinema, Khozy does not come from a film school background. Even so, this did not stop him from making films with only a mobile phone and a one-person crew, himself, eventually earning a spot at the Mobile Film Festival in 2018.

Echoing Khozy’s perspective, Mira Lesmana, producer of the iconic teen drama Ada Apa dengan Cinta (What’s Up With Love) (Rudi Soedjarwo, 2002), encouraged young filmmakers to initiate their journeys through short films. For her, short films serve as spaces to discover new talent and sustain the industry. A short film can even function as a “calling card,” a proof of concept to propel one’s career forward.

Director Yandy Laurens, whose feature debut Keluarga Cemara (2018) became a breakout success, also began his creative path with short films. Starting from the deeply personal, Yandy often draws from his own life in his storytelling. Through short films, he found a safe, pressure-free space for experimentation and growth. In their constraints, short films create their own form of freedom. Their complexities inspire filmmakers to expand long-term exploration and experimentation.

Don’t miss other curated short film compilations at JAFF20, including:

ASIAN PERSPECTIVES SHORTS 4
Thursday, 4 December | Empire XXI Studio 3 | 12:30 WIB

ASIAN PERSPECTIVES SHORTS 2
Thursday, 4 December | Empire XXI Studio 3 | 18:15 WIB

NOCTURNAL SHORTS 1
Thursday, 4 December | Empire XXI Studio 4 | 00:15 WIB

NOCTURNAL SHORTS 2
Thursday, 4 December | Empire XXI Studio 5 | 23:30 WIB