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It was a grand event for a modest town like Yogyakarta. The 19^th edition of JAFF, the Jogja- Netpac Asian Film Festival which had Metanoia as its theme, was ambitous, enthusiastic, crowded. And poised to scale new heights. ‘Metanoia’ comes from the old Greek word ’met’ (‘beyond’ or ‘after’) and ‘noe’ which can refer to perception – the idea being to probe the mind and nurture hope for a humane society across Asia.

In the words of Festival Founder and renowned filmmaker Garin Nugroho, “this is an era of a new media ecosystem…a new buyer and seller market.” Next year, he added, “will be JAFF’s 20^th year and our government has agreed to help us move forward.”

Over 180 films from 25 countries were screened to nearly full houses. The audience was appreciative, the Q&A sessions were useful and the staff was helpful and ever-smiling. And the festival did not lack awards either. The main prizes were the Golden and Silver Hanoman awards (won by Happyend and Viet and Nam respectively); Indonesian Screen Award (six awards in this section), the Geber Award, the Student Award, the Biencong Award for short films and the JAFF Student Award.

And of course the NETPAC Award. The eleven films we, the jury, watched were the same as those in the main competition (save one film) - Breaking the Cycle, the only documentary in the section which spoke of the political awakening in Thailand following the end of military rule in 2019. The feature films differed widely in theme and treatment – from socially relevant subjects to intensely personal ones, from inner struggles to goals of freedom. The winner was MA – Cry of Silence by The Maw Naing from Myanmar, co-produced with five other countries. This brave work gave us an idea of the situation inside Myanmar following the military coup in 2021 through the eyes of a group of adolescent girls -  garment factory workers all – who have not been paid for two months and who protest with fear in their hearts but courage in their actions.

Garin Nugroho’s film Samsara lifted the curtain on the festival. An artistic achievement, Samsara’s beautiful if unusual quality was its lack of dialogue. Crafted with sound, music, dance, pantomime and graceful movements, it created remarkable audio and visual effects with  sound and image alone. It was a metaphoric story set in an unknown age but true for all ages, depicting, in the words of Festival President Budi Irawanto, “a tale of human desire, love and the consequences of excessive ambition…it also illustrates the inherently animalistic drive towards survival…”

Samsara was screened yet again, this time with a live orchestra (gamelan) and singers from Bali. We sat enthralled. Two posthumous honorary awards were given away to Hendrick Gozali – a prolific film producer who has also donned other mantles in the Indonesian film industry – and to Aruna Vasudev who played a pivotal role in bringing Asian cinema into the limelight more than thirty years ago. An entire two-hour session moderated by Budi Irawanto, was devoted to her, with rich tributes being paid by Garin Nugroho, Kim Dong-ho, Wong Tuck Cheong and Jajang Noer. A moving moment for all those who had known her and had worked with her.

But the major step ahead for the festival this year was the JAFF Market, the largest in Indonesia. Hugely aspirational for a first-time event, its large venue boasted 150 booths, inviting both professionals and film enthusiasts. It included conferences, master classes, workshops, round tables, public lectures, film promotion and coproductions among other subjects. Sixty-one MOUs were signed over three days.

Nineteen years of promoting Asian cinema, expanding gradually every year, JAFF is now poised to take a great leap forward. Next year, its two decade-long trajectory will most likely see an even bigger and brighter bash. JAFF’s fame will also be Yogyakarta’s fame.

Written by Dr. Latika Padgaonkar

Latika Padgaonkar is a columnist, editor of several books, translator, former Joint Director, Osian’s- Cinefan Film Festival, and former Executive Editor, Cinemaya, The Asian Film Quarterly. A member of the Media Foundation, she also did a two-year spell with the National Commission for Women’s Media Group. Currently, she writes extensively on films and books in newspapers and on websites. 

A PhD from the University of Sorbonne, Paris, she taught French and English at Fergusson College, Pune (1968-69), and French at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi (1975-1978). She is a member of the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (India), and a member of FIPRESCI (Federation Internationale de la Presse Cinematographique). She has been on the jury of several national and international film festivals as well as on the jury of the National Film Awards in 2012. Currently, as a member of the Pune International Centre, she organises small 4-day film festivals at the National Film Archive of India. She has organised 11 so far (Iran, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Shakespeare, Mahabharata and 3 Buddhist).

Latika Padgaonkar has co-edited – among other books - Being and Becoming: The Cinemas of Asia, An Asian Film Journey and Kenji Mizogchi and the Art of Japanese Cinema