Two #Indonesian films to screen in Hong Kong

Two Indonesian films, Surau dan Silek (Surau and Silek) and MARS - Mimpi Ananda Raih Semesta (Ananda's Dream Achieved the Universe) are set to screen in Hong Kong on Sunday.

With the aim to promote local films abroad, the special screening titled "BISA Hong Kong Film Award" is presented by the Indonesian Education and Culture Ministry's Film Development Center in collaboration with the Be Indonesian Smart 'n' Active (BISA) initiative and the Indonesian Migrant Workers (BMI) union in Hong Kong and Macau, news agency Antara reported.

Arul Muchsen, a representative from BISA, praised Surau dan Silek for its local content, as the Minang language is used in most of the film. Arul added that the film’s director, Arief Malinmudo, had also involved children from Minang to take part in the film.

Meanwhile, MARS, which was partly shot at Oxford University, tells the story of a student from a small village in Gunung Kidul in Yogyakarta, who was able to obtain education at the prestigious university in the United Kingdom. 

 

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"This film inspires many children from the regions [of Indonesia] to continue school and obtain higher education," Arul said of MARS, which was released in 2016.

Emilka Bias, the producer of Surau dan Silek, expressed hope that the film would inspire Indonesians who have traveled away from home to not forget about their country. 

"Hopefully, those who are homesick will enjoy the fragments of the beauty of the archipelago presented in this film, as well as appreciate it as a national film with local wisdom," Emilka said.

The Film Development Center's head, Maman Wijaya, said in Jakarta on Tuesday that next year's event would be held to coincide with the 2018 Hong Kong Filmart event and the Hong Kong Film Festival to gain more exposure.  

Source - TheJakartaPost

Today National Holiday in Thailand - Visakha Bucha Day

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