News

With Indonesia’s first film market taking place during Jaff, the enthusiasm for the festival was even bigger, in a way that is actually quite contagious, particularly since the overwhelming majority of the audience were in their 20s, with their attitude giving the whole thing a party essence that was quite appealing. The program was also interesting, with the local films taking a rather large part of the program, allowing for new discoveries in an industry that is dominated by horror movies, but actually produces a number of other genres. Also of interest is the fact that the local productions seem to move more towards mainstream paths, something that also dictates the festival’s program, in contrast to European film festivals who usually pick the arthouse path.

Without further ado, take a look at our coverage of Jaff

Film Review: A Brother and 7 Siblings (2024) by Yandy Laurens

Dimas Bagus Triatma...

Sexual awakenings have always been a theme that cinema loved, with the coming-of-age category being of the most popular internationally. Recently, however, and as LGBT themes have started to appear more on the big screen, particularly in independent cinema, the concept has taken a rather different turn. Ryan Machado, in his feature debut, deals with the particular aspect of the theme, while placing his story two decades ago.

Love and Videotapes is screening at Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival

The story takes place during the summer of 2001, in a small town in the Philippines. 16-year-old Andoy is living with his mother’s sister and her husband, who is not particularly keen on him, while his mother is away, working. At the same time, he is looking for his long-lost father in the most unlikely places: VHS tapes of a local video store, along with his best friend and also movie buff,...

Pluto Film has expanded its lineup ahead of this year’s EFM in Berlin with Generation 14plus screener “Huling Palabas.”

The Berlin-based sales company has also acquired the historical drama “Sima’s Song” by award-winning Afghan director Roya Sadat; Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay’s timely and suspenseful German social drama “Hysteria”; and Luxembourgish helmer Eric Lamhène’s “Breathing Underwater,” which explores violence against women.

Ryan Espinosa Machado’s Philippine coming-of-age drama “Huling Palabas,” described by Pluto Film CEO Daniela Cölle as “a charming LGBTQ debut,” follows a 16-year-old boy in 2001 who, while searching for his father in the most unlikely of places, becomes mystified by two movie-like characters who appear in his small town.

“Huling Palabas” is produced by the Philippines’ Tilt Studios, Terminal Six, Waf Studios and Studio Pulo.

“Sima’s Song”

“Sima’s Song” stars Mozhdah Jamalzadah and Niloufar Koukhani as Suraya and Sima, lifelong friends whose lives take...

The Berlinale has completed the lineup for its Panorama, Generation, Forum and Forum expanded sections, with new films from Levan Akin and Andre Techine, plus the debut feature of US playwright Annie Baker.

Swedish filmmaker Akin, who scored an international hit in 2019 with And Then We Danced, will open the Panorama strand with Crossing, about two people travelling from Georgia to Istanbul in search of a young transgender woman.

Scroll down for the full list of Panorama, Generation and Forum features

Also among the 31 films in Panorama are My New Friends from French filmmaker Techine, starring Isabelle Hupert, Hafsia Herzi...

In a ceremony that took place on August 13, animated movie “Iti Mapukpukaw” by Carl Joseph E. Papa and “Rookie” by Samantha Lee and Natts Jadaone.

“Iti Mapukpukaw” focuses on Eric, an animator working in the Phillipines living a rather normal life. He has a nice but dirty apartment, a good paying job, and a guy he likes. One thing glaring about Eric though is he does not have a mouth, literally. One day, he receives a call from his mother Rosalinda, asking him to check up on his seemingly lost uncle. Only to find out that his uncle has been dead for days. While still in shock, a familiar alien arrives wanting to take Eric away from Earth. Iti Mapukpukaw is Filipino-Ilocano rotoscope animated film that follows Eric's life as it twists and turns after the arrival of the familiar alien, and the death of his uncle; both of which...