Indonesian new film shortlisted for Busan main competition and starts international sales

Indonesian director Eddie Chayono's new film has been shortlisted for the main competition section of the Busan International Film Festival, and Hong Kong international sales company Asian Shadows has obtained the international sales agency rights for the film.The film stars Christian Hakim and Ayushita Nugraha, with Landon Simatupon playing the role of the village chief.The report also announced the story setting and production background of the film.

The central character of the story is Sumyati, who is in her 60s.After her husband committed suicide, she lived alone in a small village in Java.Daughter Sili fled an arranged marriage and a violent marriage to work overseas.Sumyati later learned that Sili was facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia in connection with the death of a man who tried to assault her.

After learning the news, Sumyati began to raise money, hoping to rush to see her daughter for the last time.The village chief, Jatmiko, put her in touch with Indonesian officials and journalists.The film advances the story from the perspective of the mother who stayed in her hometown. After her daughter leaves, how the family faces the long wait and sudden news is the focus of the film.

Director Chayono conducted research on Indonesian migrant workers for the project.The report mentioned that many people will go to cities or work overseas to escape the economic difficulties in their hometowns. After family separation, some people have to face the consequences of domestic violence and forced marriage.The film starts from these interviews and research and follows the story of the distance between a mother and her daughter.

The film was shot on 16mm film.Christine Hakim, whose acting career spans fifty years, plays the mother who remains in the village.Ayushita Nugraha plays the daughter who goes abroad to work, and Landon Simatupon plays the village chief who provides help.The relationship between the three characters forms the main thread of the story.

In terms of production, Indonesian ANP Talenta Media and Japan's Knockonwood Inc. jointly participated, and two producers from Hong Kong joined as creative producers.Tika Bulavani of ANP Talenta Media serves as producer, marking her first time as a feature film producer.Chayono is executive producing through his company Memorieslight Pictures.

Maria Ruggieri, head of sales and acquisitions at Asian Shadows, said the film puts a mother's image into her daughter's perspective and hopes to bring the film to an international audience.The Hong Kong-based sales company, established in 2014, has long represented film projects by Asian directors and had handled the international sales of Chayono's last feature film.

The director's research also focuses on family members who remain behind in their hometown.The film starts with the mother facing the life after her daughter leaves, placing this mother-daughter relationship at the center of the story.

Chayono's previous second feature film won the Indonesian National Film Award for Best Screenplay, Best Music and Best Film, and also won awards at the Singapore and Shanghai Film Festivals.After the new film entered the main competition in Busan this time, international sales agency work has been started simultaneously, and information about the main creator and production company has also been made public.

Information that has been released so far includes the film's Busan main competition entry, three actors, 16mm shooting method, co-production producers and international sales agents arrangements with Asian Shadows.