ARKIPEL: Penal Colony – 5th JAKARTA INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY AND EXPERIMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL

Forum Lenteng initiates ARKIPEL as a reflection on global phenomena in the social, political, economic, and cultural context through cinema. ARKIPEL Jakarta International Documentary & Experimental Film Festival are held every year and 2017 is the fifth year of ARKIPEL. The name of ARKIPEL itself is taken from the word archipelago which refers to the Indonesian term, ‘nusantara’ (archipelago) which emerged since early 16th century. This archipelago of thousands islands holds a long  history of globalization both politically, culturally and economically. More than 500 years ago, this region became a major destination for Western explorers to discover new territories to be ruled or as partners in the world of commerce. Aside of Europeans, the Eastern (Chinese, Arabs and Indians) have made this archipelago as an exploration destination in their trade missions such as spices and silk. The expected exploration during ARKIPEL is the exploration of cinematic ideas.

This August 2017, ARKIPEL Jakarta International Documentary & Experimental Film Festival is held again in Jakarta. The festival held at: Ke:Kini, Goethehaus Jakarta, Kineforum Taman Ismail Marzuki, and Gudang Sarinah Ekosistem (GSE). This year’s theme is “Penal Colony” which tries to read socio-political and cultural phenomenon in the frame of cinema. Based on the theme, the programs are: Festival Forum, International Competition, Curatorial Program, Asian Young Curator, Candrawala, Kultursinema Exhibition, Special Presentation, Special Screening, and Festival Forum. There were 89 films from 80 countries over the world presented in ARKIPEL since its opening at August 19, 2017. 31 films selected from 1.722 films submitted from about 80 countries from all around the world for the International Competition program. The ARKIPEL Penal Colony – 5th Jakarta International Documentary and Experimental Film Festival was officially closed (sematkan link http://arkipel.org/arkipel-penal-colony-award-winners/)in the GoetheHaus Jakarta, August 26, 2017.