One Big Sumba Family

The four finalists in Indonesia Feature-Length Competition may serve as a window to peek into the scope of feature-length documentary production in the country. Although it is slowly increasing every year, the number is still comparatively small. The four films presented with equally important stories are able to show the depth and complex depiction of the featured narrative. Moreover, these films try to respond to issues with locally relevant contexts that can be contextualized in a broader sense. Over time, how can the quality of Indonesian feature-length documentaries compete with their quantity?

General note on Competition
To continue taking part in documentary development and exploration in Indonesia–and the world–is Festival Film Dokumenter (FFD)’s main objective. FFD’s Competition Program is the main channel in assessing these dynamics. This year, more than 400 films were submitted. Through those numbers, topics about tradition are still on the pedestal. However, the way of perceiving and contextualization regarding the issues presented became a fairly fresh offer from several submitted films.

The presentation of perspectives and aesthetic overtures against conventional patrons became the lively scene of this year’s film submissions. These propositions lead us–at least–to take a look at the filmmakers’ heads and the way they see the world in continuous flux. From Latin America to Eastern Europe, they all share a common thread: human prowess in responding to nature and life.

Within 4 categories, this year’s 28 finalists not only present a diverse palette of storytelling and viewpoints, but also respond to the mundane everyday matters that revolve around them. The seemingly constant life becomes the birthplace of a documentary that is rather dynamic. A trip to the distant memory of history, a glimpse of the unknown future, as well as a celebration of day-to-day life become the supporting verbs of the documentaries in this program. All in all, the films in this program introduce us to fragments of life that, hopefully, can be our basis in celebrating what stays unchanged and what needs to be changed.

– Gerry Junus & Rugun Sirait