Indonesian ambassador to Abu Dhabi promotes Indonesian cinema

The Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi held the Indonesian Film Week in Manarat Al Saadiyat, on August 13-14, 2022. This event serves, externally, to promote Indonesian films to everyone in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and internally, as a means of dealing with the longing to see Indonesian movies for Indonesian citizens residing in the UAE.

The August 13 screening was held in collaboration with Cinema Space Abu Dhabi, while the August 14 screening was conducted by the embassy with the support of Indonesian-related ministries as well as MD Entertainment.

“A good movie can take us anywhere, even to the past, and give us the best experience as if we were part of it. Whether it’s a classic, a drama, a comedy or a horror movie, Indonesian cinema can give us that,” said Husin Bagis.

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The films that were screened on August 13 were “The Rainbow Troops/Laskar Pelangi” and “After the Curfew/Lewat Djam Malam”. About 100 foreigners and Indonesian citizens signed up to see the film “Laskar Pelangi”, which is predominantly dominated by families with children. The second film is a classic from 1954 that was restored in 2012 because it is considered that it can present a very artistic historical portrait of Indonesia. 75 people signed up to see it and many foreign classic movie lovers admired “Lewat Djam Malam”.

At the performances on the 14th, 110 people registered to see the movie “Kartini”, 107 people signed up for the movie “Uang Panai”, and 220 people signed up for the movie “KKN di Desa Penari”. Foreigners from France, Singapore, UAE, Jordan, Philippines, South Korea, America, Australia, Canada, Bangladesh, India, Lithuania, Vietnam and Iran joined the film screening.

An Australian diplomat expressed her admiration for the film “Kartini”, which she felt was able to tell the story of a champion of women’s empowerment in a meaningful way. Indonesian citizens who attended the movie “KKN di Desa Penari” expressed their gratitude to the Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi for giving them the opportunity to “nobar” or watch together so that they could meet among Indonesian citizens and get to know each other.

Indonesian Film Week was held as a series of events to commemorate the 77th Indonesian Independence Day. This event was free to all and was attended by diplomats, Embassy partners, as well as Indonesian citizens in the UAE. This event also served as the launch of the film “KKN di Desa Penari” which will be widely screened in the UAE by Vox Cinemas in September 2022.