Yogyakarta, IO – In its second year running, the Kotabaru Heritage Festival 2024 has once again lit up Yogyakarta, owing to the City Cultural Agency. The festival took place from August 9 to 11, at SMAN 3 Yogyakarta in Gondokusuman, Yogyakarta.
Jogja Kota Sinema (Jogja the City of Cinema) took part in the festival series and became a crucial platform for exchanging ideas and concerns about Indonesia’s film industry.
Independent Observer joined the second public lecture titled “Jogja, the City of Cinema: Integrating Cultural Heritage and Public Spaces,” featuring speakers Garin Nugroho and Siska Raharja.
“Jogja has all the right elements to be crowned as a city of cinema,” said Siska Raharja, the Director of the Kotabaru Heritage Film Festival.
According to Siska, Jogja has everything it needs to carve out its identity as a City of Cinema. First, the city’s social capital. The network of filmmakers in Jogja is incredibly strong, both within the local community and with connections outside, as well as with the grassroots. Second, the city’s natural resources, cultural heritage, and public spaces provide a rich backdrop that perfectly complements the filmmaking industry, especially for films focusing on heritage themes. Third is its intellectual capital. Jogja is home to universities and communities that are deeply invested in the world of film.
“And let’s not forget policy support and economic capital as our fourth (capital),” Siska added. “Jogja benefits from the Special Autonomy Fund, which helps filmmakers thrive here.” In addition, Jogja regularly hosts film festivals, such as the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF), which further solidifies its reputation as a cinematic hub.
Veteran director Garin Nugroho agrees with Siska, acknowledging that Jogja truly deserves the title of City of Cinema. However, he also noted that it will take time to fully realize this vision, especially if the goal is to integrate cultural heritage and public spaces as key elements in filmmaking.
Take a closer look at some Indonesian horror films released over the years, and you will notice a recurring theme: cultural heritage—particularly Javanese culture—that often relates to the world of the supernatural. Gamelan music, as a Javanese traditional music instrument, becomes a tool for summoning spirits, and wayang kulit (shadow puppetry) is depicted as a ritual in mystic energy.
The historical buildings in Yogyakarta are also often turned into haunted houses in films, becoming the epicenter of ghostly terror. Why not present them purely as cultural heritage instead?
“Because our today’s culture is all about mass appeal and going viral,” remarked Garin. “People make films only for the money and ignore the real values.”
“Just look at the recent Indonesian films; they’re all about infidelity with no real value in them. All they do is showcase useless and meaningless arguments,” Garin added.
“It’s different with Korean dramas; even if they cover infidelity, they often weave in other values,” Garin explained. “Viewers can learn something, like legal principles or medical knowledge if the story involves a doctor. In contrast, in Indonesian films or dramas, if there’s a doctor, their role is usually limited to checking a heartbeat, performing a silly fake surgery, and ending with, ‘We’ve done everything we can.’ The audience doesn’t gain any real understanding of the medical profession or procedures,” revealed Garin.
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According to Garin, taste is something to be educated and shaped over time. “That’s why the Kotabaru Heritage Film Festival requires a long process to gradually help audiences become accustomed to more substantial films,” he said.
Garin shared that he became a judge at a film festival in Hyderabad, India, where he saw an interesting children’s film from Iran with a non-mainstream presentation that resulted in very low interest from the Indian children.
However, years later, as audiences’ tastes gradually changed, the film eventually found a significant market. “Watching films is part of Jogja’s history,” Garin emphasized, reinforcing his optimism that Jogja truly deserves the title of City of Cinema. (des)