Collaboration with Alternativa Film Project: A Gateway to Bringing Independent Film to the International Stage

One of the standout programs in the lineup of Jakarta Film Week 2024 is the collaboration between Jakarta Film Week and the Alternativa Film Project, featuring four films curated, such as Sun of The Son, Bride Stone, One Night in Chinatown, and Rabu yang Bahagia. All films are being showed at Sjuman Djaya Theater, Taman Ismail Marzuki.

The Alternativa Film Project is an international nonprofit initiative that supports and promotes filmmakers. Its festival, the Alternativa Film Awards, serves as a platform to recognize cinematic works from around the world, particularly from countries with developing film ecosystems. This nomadic festival, which changes location each year, will be held in Southeast Asia this year, taking place in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from November 22–29, 2024.

Andjelka Jankovic, Head of Marketing and Communication for the Alternativa Film Project, and Chandra Aditya, Director of the short film Rabu yang Bahagia (a selection from the Jakarta Film Fund 2023), were invited to share their thoughts on the collaborative program between Jakarta Film Week 2024 and the Alternativa Film Project.

Inspired by the growth of Jakarta Film Week over the years, Andjelka expressed that the festival has motivated her and her team to create a more inclusive festival that welcomes a broader audience. “We want to support filmmakers and to impact the world with their movies,” Andjelka shared, emphasizing the initiative’s mission to celebrate diverse talents worldwide and foster inclusive dialogue.

Chandra Aditya reflected on his experience as a participant in the Jakarta Film Fund. He shared that he registered his film on the last day of submissions and was delighted to see it chosen for screening in this collaborative program. He noted that such initiatives create valuable opportunities for independent filmmakers to distribute their work internationally.

“For independent filmmakers, the chance to distribute your film internationally is rare. It becomes a privilege when your work can be seen by a wider audience, especially through Jakarta Film Week,” Chandra added.

Andjelka also expressed her hope that the increasing number of festivals, especially through collaborations like Jakarta Film Week, can significantly promote valuable films to an international audience.

Chandra encouraged young filmmakers striving to enter the global market, saying, “The only way to penetrate the [film] industry is to make a film; don’t worry about the hard road.”

For more information on Jakarta Film Week 2024 programs and events, visit www.jakartafilmweek.com and follow us on social media @jakartafilmweek. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this year’s celebration of international cinema in Jakarta!

Nabila Dwiputri | Nanda Hadiyanti