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The Alternativa Film Project, a global nonprofit film initiative founded by international technology company inDrive, hosted a media day in Jakarta on Sept. 11, 2024, to launch the second edition of the Alternativa Film Awards.
The event will be held in Yogyakarta and features a diverse lineup, including a Film Festival with screenings of nominated films and discussions from Nov. 22 to 28, Impact Days with international programs such as workshops, showcases and meetings for film professionals on Nov. 27 and 28 and an Awards Ceremony on Nov. 29, 2024.
Media Day was attended by Alternativa Film Project Head Liza Surganova, inDrive Indonesia Communications Manager Wahyu Ramadhan, Alternativa Film Project 2024 Brand Ambassador Abigail Limuria, and Alternativa Film Awards 2024 Selection Committee member Lulu Ratna.
Garin Nugroho, chief program officer of the Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Creativity and Innovation Arena (GIK), primary venue and partner for the 2024 Alternativa Film Awards and Festival, congratulated the media and expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration.
The Alternativa Film Awards and Festival provides an alternative system to recognize filmmakers from emerging industries who are not yet widely known, aiming to increase their visibility on a global scale. The event honors artistic achievements and social impact in cinema.
The expansion of the Alternativa Film Awards to Indonesia follows the success of its inaugural edition in Kazakhstan in 2023. The upcoming second edition will broaden its focus to the Indonesian and Southeast Asian markets.
Submissions for the 2024 Alternativa Film Awards closed on Aug. 18. Filmmakers from across Asia were invited to submit full-length films of any genre, while short films were accepted only from Southeast Asia.
The Alternativa team received 1,043 entries from 33 countries, double the number from last year. Of these, 680 submissions (208 full-length films and 472 short films) were deemed eligible. Indonesia led with 206 eligible entries, followed by the Philippines (132), Malaysia (58), Vietnam (56), India (40) and Thailand (40).
“We are thrilled and honored to see such a significant increase in submissions in the second year of the Awards. This demonstrates exceptional interest from the film community, particularly in Southeast Asia. This year, we have also added a Film Festival to connect impactful filmmakers and their films with audiences and to initiate public discussions on various relevant issues,” Liza Sugarnova said.
GIK UGM will host the Awards Ceremony and several Film Festival events, featuring 16 free public film screenings from this year's nominees and discussions focusing on topics of broad impact for audiences and professionals, involving local and international filmmakers.
“This festival not only screens films but also hosts discussions, providing a space for audiences to delve into the vision and uniqueness of these films. The program aims to offer new perspectives on how cinema contributes to society and enriches cultural spaces,” Garin Nugroho said.
Ahead of the event, the Alternativa team will conduct Industry Days – an international program consisting of workshops, exhibitions and meetings for filmmakers, producers and impactful organizations aimed at strengthening the connection between film and social change.
Wahyu Ramadhan, communications manager at inDrive Indonesia, highlighted inDrive's commitment to social issues.
“inDrive has been at the forefront of addressing social injustice wherever and whenever we can. Our business thrives with our mission to make a positive impact worldwide, including in Indonesia. We have partnered with local organizations such as Yayasan Anak Yatim, Dompet Dhuafa, Waste4Change and Carbon Ethics to launch social projects focused on environmental conversation, humanitarian aid and educational goals. To maximize our positive impact, we created a hub called inVision. inVision challenges unfair resource allocation in education, the creative industry, start-ups and sports by making these areas accessible to everyone, with the Alternativa Film Project being a vital part of this initiative,” he said.
The public was introduced to Indonesian activist Abigail Limuria during Media Day. Abigail is a cofounder of What Is Up, Indonesia? (WIUI), an independent media outlet covering Indonesian sociopolitics in a format accessible to Indonesians abroad.
Besides WIUI, Abigail authored and self-published "Lalita: 51 Kisah Perempuan Hebat Indonesia", selling over 4,000 copies across Indonesia, and has directed several films.
“I am excited to be involved in a project with such a noble mission. It provides a space to discuss social issues relevant to the countries participating in Alternativa through film. It’s not just about the commercial and cinematic aspects of film. There’s much more to it,” she said.
The Alternativa Film Awards Selection Committee, comprising 24 film industry experts from around the world, will announce the nominees in mid-October. Winners will be selected by an International Jury consisting of directors and film producers from Asia and other regions, as well as community figures and NGO representatives.
The total prize fund for the Awards is $100,000, with $20,000 for each of the four full-length film categories and $10,000 for each of the two short film winners. Winners can use the prize money for impactful campaigns or further developing their filmmaking skills. For instance, in 2023, Nepalese directors Rajan Kathet and Sunir Pandey, who won the Nativa Award for their film No Winter Holidays, used their prize for theatrical distribution in Nepal and screenings in communities and schools.
“One unique aspect of Alternativa is its Nomadic nature, allowing each region to address social issues in a relevant and representative manner,” Lulu Ratna concluded.
The Alternativa Film Project 2024 will be regularly updated on its official website at https://alternativa.film/ or follow its latest updates via Instagram @alternativa.film.sea and @alternativa_film.
