On the seventh day of the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (JAFF), the festival presented a special screening program featuring five short films created by filmmakers who emerged from LA Indie Movie, one of Indonesia’s most influential short-film development initiatives. The screening showcased Bukan Flu Biasa (Adhyatmika, 2009), Blind Date (Harvando Dafne, 2011), Rahasia (Ninndi Raras, 2012), Sebelah (Reza Rahadian, 2011), and Nasintel (Vince Lee, 2019). The program served as a reminder of how LA Indie Movie has long provided an important platform for young filmmakers to hone their craft, discover their visual language, and begin charting their path in the film industry.
Following the screening, the LA Indie Movie Meet Up Talk Show was held on the Main Stage, featuring alumni such as Reza Rahadian, Ninndi Raras, Adhyatmika, Loeloe Hendra, and Jehan Angga. During the discussion, the speakers highlighted how LA Indie Movie offered an intensive, collaborative, and open learning environment. Ninndi shared that despite not coming from a formal film background, she gained extensive technical and creative insights through mentorship within the program.
Meanwhile, Reza Rahadian noted that LA Indie Movie marked the starting point of his journey into directing, a challenging transition considering he had spent most of his career in front of the camera. He added that the experience provided him with a new understanding of idea development, team dynamics, and navigating the pressures that arise in the lead-up to a film’s release. Jehan Angga and Loeloe Hendra emphasized the importance of exploration, professionalism, and hands-on experience in cultivating the work ethic and discipline of young filmmakers.
They collectively agreed that LA Indie Movie is far more than a workshop. It is an incubator that nurtures filmmakers with strong artistic identities and collaborative capacity. Adhyatmika noted that one of the greatest challenges for emerging filmmakers is convincing others of the strength of their ideas, and that LA Indie Movie plays a crucial role in building that confidence. Reza also emphasized that filmmaking is not solely about the final result, but about the courage to keep experimenting and growing with each project, because, as he put it, “every great journey begins with small steps.”
Beyond LA Indie Movie, JAFF continues to offer a diverse range of exciting non-screening programs in the coming days. Visitors can join industry talk shows, enjoy live performances, and attend public lectures offering fresh perspectives on the evolution of Asian cinema. More information is available at jaff-filmfest.org and on social media at @jaffjogja.
Writer:Ainani Tajriani
Photos: JAFF Documentation Team
