Festival Film Dokumenter 2024 presented a Short Competition program with 5 selected films. The five films competing in this year’s Short Competition brought out recent issues and offered a multi-directional bridge to the past and the future. It started from collective to personal also domestic issues. Archives, folklore, memories, letters, and identity were effective elements in selecting the documentaries in this program. Its presentation style provided additional knowledge. It also invited further questions, not only limited to the cognitive level but also brought emotional, reflective, and remaining impressions.
Inviting three juries with diverse backgrounds was intended to enhance the appreciation of films in this category. The three juries in the FFD 2024 Short Competition program were Kong Rithdee, Mira Asriningtyas, and Sébastien Simon.
Here is a summary of our interview session with the jury.
How do you see the five films selected in this category?
(Kong) The five films selected in this category each have a strong message. Four of them bring up the theme of colonialism, showing how relevant the impact is in today’s discussion.
(Sébastien) Apart from colonialism, something interesting in this program is how all these films attempted to connect the past with the present, creating a dialogue that can be seen and felt clearly by the jury.
(Mira) It’s interesting to see how each film engages with the themes, manifested in diverse and unique forms.
Is there any film that leaves a stronger impression than the others? How do you see it? How did you assess the strengths of the film?
(Mira) Some films successfully presented new perspectives on colonialism, relevant to today’s issues.
(Sébastien) The film managed to build a strong emotional bond with me. The elements in this film feel quite “sufficient” and “right” as they should be.
(Kong) Yes, the films came with a combination of photos and voice-over that effectively conveyed the story and its emotions.
With all that, is this film finally chosen as the winner within this category? What was the main reason for the decision?
(Sébastien) Yes. This film is a letter from a mother to her daughter. In the film, her daughter doesn’t say a word, but her presence feels so strong that it perfectly connects us to her.
(Mira) Yes. Even though all films have their distinctive quality, this one shone when it came to important issues like colonialism and ecofeminism. The film brought a new perspective, emphasizing the relationship between environmental issues and gender. The research was conducted thoroughly, producing outstanding storytelling. The letter’s message, which is also featured in the film, highlights the value of knowledge as a means to overcome limitations, even in moments of helplessness.
(Kong) With suitable visuals and audio, this film conveyed a powerful message and touched the audience’s heart personally. Visual and audio elements were perfectly combined to reinforce the message and create a strong emotional bond with the audience.
So, who’s the awardee in this category?
A Tale for My Daughter (Wulan Putri, 2024).
Festival Film Dokumenter 2024 proudly presents A Tale for My Daughter (2024) directed by Wulan Putri as the awardee for Short Competition. We thank the entire selection committee and jury involved in the Festival Film Dokumenter 2024 process.
Covered by Tirza Kanya on 3 November 2024. (Ed. Vanis/Trans. Shafira Rahmasari)
