Embassy Organizes Australia-Indonesia Cinema Festival

Jakarta, (Antara) - The Australian Embassy organized an Australian-Indonesian cinema festival last weekend, the Australian Embassy stated here on its official website on Thursday.

The Australian Embassy's Festival Sinema Australia-Indonesia opened to sell-out crowds on Tuesday night, with the Friday Fright Night horror films featuring Backtrack (Australia), Killers (Indonesia), and Grave Torture (Indonesia).

As part of the Australia Day celebrations on the weekend, the Australian Embassy in Jakarta organized a three-day screening of Australian films and those by Indonesian filmmakers who are successful Australian alumni.

Australia boasts some of the world's top filmmakers and actors. Festival Sinema's highlights include multi-award winning films "The Dressmaker" starring Kate Winslet and Judy Davis and "Paper Planes," a story of hope and beating the odds. The films were screened on January 29-31 at Cinema XXI Plaza Senayan.

Prominent Indonesian director Joko Anwar and journalist-actress Marissa Anita, who have close links to Australia, are the ambassadors of the festival.

"Festival Sinema Australia-Indonesia provides a huge opportunity for Indonesian movie lovers to gain a deeper understanding of Australian films on the wide screen," stated Joko whose newest film "A Copy of My Mind" will premiere on February 11, 2016.

The festival will feature films such as "The Mirror Never Lies" by Indonesian director Kamila Andini, which also includes a question and answer session followed by the filming of "The Dressmaker."

On the final day themed "Sunday Funday," the visitors can watch films, such as "Paper Planes" and "Oddball" as well as a paper plane flying competition.(*)