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Goethe-Institut
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Ryan Rinaldy
Public Relations Manager
Goethe-Institut Jakarta
M / WA +62 811 1911 1988
www.goethe.de/indonesia
The Second Edition of German Film Festival KinoFest Officially
Kicks Off in Jakarta
© Goethe-Institut Indonesien/Anschlaege.de
Goethe-Institut’s annual German film festival KinoFest officially kicked off its
second edition in Jakarta on Thursday, 21 September 2023, at Goethehaus
Jakarta, with the screening of
Roter Himmel
directed by Christian Petzold.
KinoFest will run in Jakarta until 27 September screening 14 films released
from 2021 until 2023.
KinoFest is a joint production involving eight Goethe-Instituts in Southeast Asia
and the Pacific that aims to showcase the latest German films in various cities
across Southeast Asia and the Pacific region. KinoFest was first initiated last
year in an online format. This year, KinoFest is scheduled to run throughout
September to November 2023 in an offline format for the first time, and will
take place in cities in Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore,
New Zealand, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam.
“Goethe-Institut is devoted to promoting German movies in the Southeast Asia
and the Pacific regions through KinoFest. German cinema has an incredibly rich
tradition. From the early expressionist films to the modern works of
contemporary directors, German cinema has pushed the boundaries of the
medium and offered up bold and thought-provoking visions of the world,” said
Dr Ingo Schöningh, Regional Head of Cultural Programmes at Goethe-Institut
Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Gugi Gumilang, the curator of KinoFest 2023, added that this year’s KinoFest
focuses on diversity in German films which aim to showcase and celebrate the
variety of voices, stories, and perspectives within the German filmmaking
community. He stated, “As Germany is a culturally diverse country with a
significant immigrant population, the curated films reflect this diversity by
featuring stories from various cultural backgrounds and exploring the
experiences of immigrants and their descendants living in Germany.”
The curated films features a diverse selection of German films, including
dramas, documentaries, comedies, fiction, and thrillers. There are three
elements of curation that is shown in the film selections: strong artistic
innovation and experimentation which resulted as visually striking and
intellectually stimulating films; strong storytelling that combines complex
characters and compelling plots; and the diversity of the themes from historical
dramas to contemporary social issues, reflecting the diversity of human
experiences.
The curation of this festival explores universal themes like love, friendship,
family, and personal growth. It also focuses on character-driven narratives that
delve deep into the human condition. These stories can be emotionally
engaging and universally appealing including audiences in cities in Southeast
Asia and the Pacific region.
Opening film:
Roter Himmel
In Jakarta, KinoFest was opened with the 2023 release
Roter Himmel
directed
by Christian Petzold. The film, which won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at
the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) 2023, tells the story of four
young people who come together at a small holiday house by the Baltic Sea in
the summer. As the parched forests around them begin to ignite, so do their
emotions: happiness, lust and love; but also jealousies, resentments and
tensions.
During the opening of KinoFest 2023, Petzold greeted the audience through a
pre-recorded video saying, “
Roter Himmel
was one of the happiest shootings
I've ever had. Maybe it has something to do with the impression that there was
a melancholy or almost sentimentality that lay over the whole shooting, as if
it wasn't a film taking place in the summer, but a film taking place in the autumn
or as if there will soon be no more summer. But we are experiencing again
what summer or what summer cinema could actually be like.”
In Indonesia, KinoFest can be enjoyed for free from 21 to 27 September at
GoetheHaus Jakarta and from 22 to 27 September at Institut Francais Indonesia
(IFI) Bandung. A total of 14 films will be screened in Jakarta, while in Bandung,
12 films will be screened. Detailed information about KinoFest 2023 can be
accessed at goethe.de/indonesia/kinofest.
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About Goethe-Institut
The Goethe-Institut is the Federal Republic of Germany's cultural institute,
active worldwide. We promote the study of German abroad and encourage
international cultural exchange. We also provide a comprehensive image of
Germany through information on German political, social, and cultural life. Our
various cultural and educational programs support intercultural dialogue and
enable cultural participation. These various programs strengthen the structures
of civil society and support global mobility.
For press inquiries:
Ryan Rinaldy
Public Relations Manager
Goethe-Institut Jakarta
Ryan.Rinaldy@goethe.de
M / WA +62 811 1911 1988
