Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 4 (UNI) Acclaimed Indonesian filmmaker Garin Nugroho will be honoured at the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), to be held from December 12 to 19, through a special Contemporary Filmmaker in Focus section.
The Kerala State Chalachitra Academy announced that the festival will screen five of Nugroho’s celebrated films, each showcasing his distinctive cinematic voice and his deep engagement with society, culture, and politics.
Widely regarded as one of the most influential auteurs in contemporary world cinema—particularly in Southeast Asia—Nugroho has had his works featured at major international festivals, including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Locarno.
The selected films for the IFFK showcase are Bird Man Tale, A Poet: Unconcealed Poetry, Samsara, Whispers in the Dabdas, and Letter to an Angel.
Bird Man Tale explores the journey of 15-year-old Arnold, who follows a girl he wishes to kiss, set against the fraught sociopolitical landscape of Papua’s vocal struggle for independence.
A Poet: Unconcealed Poetry, shot entirely in black and white, unfolds within two prison cells and portrays the experiences of poet Ibrahim Kadir, imprisoned on suspicion of communist links. The film won the FIPRESCI Award at the 2001 Singapore International Film Festival and the Silver Leopard at Locarno, earning global acclaim for its stark depiction of Indonesia’s political prisoners.
Nugroho’s 2024 film Samsara is a silent love story set in 1930s Bali. It tells the tale of a poor young man who resorts to a dark ritual for wealth to win the approval of his beloved’s affluent family.
Whispers in the Dabdas delves into the moral crisis of a lawyer forced to work within a justice system deeply compromised by the influence of the rich and powerful.
The 1994 feature Letter to an Angel, the first film to be shot on Sumba Island, narrates the story of Lewa—a boy who believes an angel protects the Earth—blending myth, innocence, and cultural memory.
The curated package offers IFFK audiences a rare opportunity to revisit the breadth of Nugroho’s cinematic legacy, reaffirming his status as a visionary storyteller whose works continue to resonate across cultures and generations.
IFFK to spotlight 5 iconic films by Indonesian Master Garin Nugroho
