Dismantling Stigmas, Building Systems: A Call for Safe Spaces from Kamila Andini and Hannah Al-Rashid

On the fifth day of JAFF20, the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) program welcomed filmmaker Kamila Andini and actor-activist Hannah Al-Rashid, one of the founders of Kawan Puan—a solidarity movement dedicated to empowering women and supporting NGOs across Indonesia that assist survivors of violence. Held at the Edelweiss Room, ARTOTEL Suites Bianti Yogyakarta, the discussion, titled “Let’s Talk About It: Women, Film, and Safe Spaces,” was designed exclusively for women, delving into the shifting dynamics of women’s roles in Asian cinema and the urgent need for safer working environments in the film industry. Despite the abundance of female-centered narratives in Asian cinema, the stigma separating “male directors” and “female directors” remains entrenched—rendering the label “female director” as something exceptional rather than acknowledging the profession as equal and universal.

During the session, Kamila Andini emphasized that although the number of women directors in Indonesia remains small, they carry a remarkable sense of consistency and artistic identity. She encouraged women to move forward steadily, asserting their place in the industry through solidarity, resistance to discrimination, and the courage to speak up about discomforts often dismissed as trivial—such as jokes that undermine women yet are normalized within professional spaces. Kamila also highlighted how sensibilities and creative perspectives in filmmaking are often shaped by a male-dominated viewing culture, making it all the more crucial for women to continue strengthening their own narrative and visual language.

Hannah Al-Rashid underscored the importance of preventive measures in film production—from understanding personal boundaries to pushing for proper standard operating procedures (SOPs) that protect film workers. In a landscape where production houses, industry structures, and regulations have not always aligned with the needs of women, building protective systems, including policies initiated by the Indonesian Film Producers Association (APROFI), becomes a crucial step forward. Hannah hopes to see more production companies commit to systemic improvements, activate protection hotlines, and create tangible safe spaces. For her, women in film should not have to walk this path alone and it is collective action that will ultimately pave the way toward a more empowered and equitable film industry.