PUBLIC LECTURE ON THE ORIGINS AND TRANSFORMATION OF ASIAN FILM FESTIVALS AT JAFF19

The Asian film industry has experienced significant growth. This achievement is closely tied to the presence of regional film festivals, which serve as platforms for screening and appreciating works that fuel the dynamics of the local film ecosystem.

Held on 4 December 2024 at Artotel Meeting Room Suites 3, this public lecture highlights the journey of three reputable film festivals in Asia, they are Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival, and the Singapore International Film Festival, tracing their humble beginnings to their current prominence. With three pioneers, Garin Nugroho (Founder of JAFF), Kim Dong Ho (Founder of BIFF), and Philip Cheah (Head of SIFF and member of NETPAC) join as the speakers.

“It all started when we created the Asian Film Academy, and through this academy, many Asian filmmakers studied at Busan, and then BIFF was created,” Kim Dong-Ho said about BIFF. Meanwhile, Philip Cheah told the participants that the concept behind creating SIFF was initially influenced by western festivals, and started to dedicate SIFF to appreciating and promoting Southeast Asian films. 

“As for JAFF, we decided to make it in Yogyakarta because if we made it in Jakarta, the economic capital must be very high,” Garin explained. He also added that the inspiration also came from Kim Dong-Ho and Philip. 

The three founders also agreed on the importance of cultural mapping and highlighted the challenges of building an audience for diverse cinematic tastes, leaving the audience with indelible knowledge.

Don’t miss out on the next non-screening programs from JAFF19. For detailed information, follow the official social media account @jaffjogja and the website jaff-filmfest.org.