Now in its second year, this international film festival runs from 21 to 31 October, promising to be a visual and cultural feast of creativity.

"BALINALE International Film Festival (Formerly known as Bali Taksu Film Festival) is in the tradition of the BERLINALE, and the VIENNALE - both which have more than 50 years of successful events behind them,’ said Deborah Gabinetti, Director of the BALINALE International Film Festival.

Showcasing 40 films from 20 countries shown in five different locations around Bali, as well as running a number of workshops and exhibitions, the BALINALE was established by the Bali Taksu Indonesia Foundation.

This year’s program shows an ambitious expansion over last year – with the first three showing premieres of international award-winning films addressing cultural and environmental issues with an encouraging number of international directors have come to Bali to introduce their films.

"Taking root – the Vision of Wangari Maathai" is an Asian Premiere of the Nobel Prize winner’s work in replanting trees to re-green the environment in her Kenyan homeland of Africa.

An Indonesian Premiere of Mexican Director Sebastian Silva’s film "El Viaje de la Nonna", (Nonna’s Trip), is sponsored by the Mexican Embassy. It approaches the universal issues of age and memory, as an elderly woman dreaming of seeing her home once more is supported by her family in making her dreams come true. The filmmaker is here to introduce the film.

"Perempuan Punya Cerita’ (Chants of Lotus)will be presented by scriptwriter Vivian Idris and Actress Shanty – a collaboration of four Directors – Nia Dinata, Upi, Lasja F. Susatyo and Fatimah T. Rony, which depicts the ups and downs of women's lives in four different parts of Indonesian society – an isolated island, a tourist town, a village, and the capital city.

Italian film "Lezioni di Volo’ (Flying Lessons), directed by Francesca Archibugi, will also make its first Asian Premiere at the festival. A story about two young Italian losers who travel to India and meet a disillusioned French doctor, it deals with a spectrum of sociological issues.

World-renowned and award winning filmmakers Michelle and Howard Hall are here to present their film "Deep Sea’. This beautifully shot film takes you face-to-face with some of the most mysterious and stunning creatures of the sea and the impact that global climate change has on the ocean wilderness.

The eighth day of the festival will celebrate "Charlie Chaplin Night"."Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin" and Charlie’s favourite film"The Gold Rush’, filmed in 1925 – the quintessential Chaplin/Little Tramp film. Kate Guyonvarch form Chaplin Association is here to present the rare documentary footage of Charlie Chaplin’s 1932 visit to Bali.

BALINALE’s opening night film is "Man of Cinema: Pierre Rissient"(Todd McCarthy) – which will be presented by renowned Indonesian actress, Christine Hakim.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Friday, 10 to Friday, 17 October – Student Filmmaking Workshop

Student Workshop at the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival with documentary film teacher Ananta Wijaya

Tuesday, 21 October – Festival Opening Day

• Children’s Matinee Film Opening
  Films of Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren’s stories will be shown in Daily Matinee Sessions from 21 to 25 October.
• Opening Night Party
  Red Carpet welcome & Cocktail Party
  Showing of award winning "MAN OF CINEMA – PIERRE RISSIENT "by Todd McCarthy

Wednesday, 22 October - Premieres of New Cutting Edge Films

Indonesian Premiere of Banjamin Gilmour’s debut film SON OF A LION, produced by Carolyn Johnson, about a young Pakistani boy in a remote tribal region who rebels against following his father into the gun-making trade.

Thursday, 23 October - Charlie Chaplin Night

Original footage of Chaplin’s 1932 visit to Bali, introduced by Kate Guyonvarch of the Chaplin Association, followed by Classic Charlie Chaplin Films from the 1920s: "GOLD RUSH and THE CIRCUS".

Friday, 24 October – Documentary Premieres

Indonesian Premiere: "GOD MADE THEM BLIND", a documentary by Richard Todd

Saturday, 25 October – Family Program

• Selected International Feature Films and Exceptional Indonesian Independent Film-makers connecting people – excellent family entertainment.
• Cocktail Party & Presentation of "VLAJE DE LA NONA" (NONA’S TRIP) by Mexican Director Sebastian Silva.

Sunday, 26 October - New Zealand Film Education Expo

• Basic Still Photography Workshop by Syamsul – day 1

Monday, 27 October - Sport Movies

• Basic Still Photography Workshop by Syamsul – day 2
• Documentary Filmmaking Workshop "INTO The Power of One" with filmmakers Catherine Madigan and Richard Todd
• "INTO THE TSANGPO GORGE" by Les Guthman plus a number of other international sports features and documentaries.

Tuesday, 28 October - Short Films

Selected film submissions from Indonesia and Abroad

• Basic Photo Journalism Workshop by Syamsul Hadi – day 1
• Filmmakers Dinner at Casa Luna (by Invitation only)

Wednesday, 29 October - Documentary Films

• Basic Photo Journalism Workshop by Syamsul Hadi – day 2
• Documentary Film Showing: Selected submissions from Indonesia and Abroad

Thursday, 30 October - Films & Panel Discussions

• "Why Hollywood is Looking East" with producer Stan Wlodkowski ("EAT PRAY LOVE"), producer Philip Lee ("CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON") and composer Richard Horowitz

>> Download the BALINALE 2008 Program here (PDF file)

Bali Taksu Film Festival (now called BALINALE International Film Festival) is launch on 30 November - 4 December 2007. Established by Bali Taksu Indonesia Foundation, the festival provides an opportunity for international filmmakers to screen films to an Indonesian market while giving Indonesian film professionals an international forum in which to present their work. Founded by Christine Hakim, Indonesia’s most acclaimed and internationally recognized film actress and Deborah Gabinetti, director of Bali Film Center, the festival exposes the country’s unique culture, rich story ideas, and diverse locations to the international filmmaking community for consideration of possible future projects.

Endorsed by Ministry of Culture & Tourism, Bali Governor’s Office, Regency of Badung and Bali Tourism Board. The festival promises to increase cultural exchange, understanding and collaboration between Indonesia and the world by presenting Indonesian films to a global audience and attracting internationally recognizable films and filmmakers to the island for possible future projects.

An important part of the festival’s educational program is supporting free workshops and seminars through the Young Indonesian Film Circle, offering Indonesian students and young filmmakers an opportunity to learn from established industry professionals. The festival provides filmmaking workshops and seminars and participates in film festivals in Indonesia and abroad. This year Film Educational Program includes a Creative Writing Workshop with Salman Aristo, Academy Award nominated documentary filmmaker Jean-Pierre Dutilleux, Emmy nominated filmmaker Les Guthman and Indonesia"s award winning director Garin Nugroho plus noted Indonesian actress/producer and festival co-founder Christine Hakim contributing to the first workshop.

The film program includes Miguel Covarrubias’ original 1930"s film ’Isle of Bali’, World Premiere of "The Rites of Peace"(Directed and co-written by Marcus Sean McBain, Narrated and co-written by Dr Lawrence Blair, Produced by Mark Tuck and Lucien Thynne) plus the sold out Indonesian Premiere of " The Red Kebaya" (L’Agenda Productions, Malaysia) with the filmmaker Andre Berly attending. Director Richard Oh presented his film “Koper” to a full house and young producer/director Alison Teal Blehert-Koehn for ‘Rita-a True Himalayan Adventure. In addition, there will be a number of environmentally themed films to coincide with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change held on Bali (3-16 December) where there will be a screening of short films from the Student Workshop.

Beginning in the early 1930’s, the exotic island of Bali has attracted trendsetters and filmmakers inspired by Bali’s spirituality, romance and adventure. Bali’s rich film history includes; Andre Roosevelt’s "Goona Goona" (1932), Constance Bennet and husband Henri de la Falaise’s "Legong: Dance of the Virgins" (1935) the last silent film produced by a major Hollywood studio (Paramount International) and anthropological films like Margaret Mead’s "Trance and Dance in Bali", (1952).

>> Download the BALINALE 2007 Program (PDF file)

The 3rd annual BALINALE International Film Festival took place on 20 – 25 October screening 25 films from 12 countries to record audience numbers. This year the festival attracted over 3,500 spectators (a 200% increase from the previous year).

BALINALE 2009 opened with the sold out screening of award winning Australian claymation film "MARY AND MAX" by director Adam Elliot and closed with a free screening of the award winning Indonesian children’s animated film "MERAIH MIMPI" by Nia Dinata. The film was introduced by award winning Indonesian actors and Friends of the Festival Jajang C. Noer and Didi Petet to an enthusiastic young audience.

WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS

BALINALE’s Young Indonesia Film Circle educational programs are conducted by Indonesian and international professionals to promote inspired learning and create future career opportunities. This year we held five workshops and seminars free of charge to 500 fledgling filmmakers. BALINALE is committed to discovering new talent and continues to contribute to developing Indonesia’s film industry.

• PROFESSIONAL ACTING with Didi Petet

  One of the nation’s finest actors whose work includes"JERMAL, KABAYAN, CATATAN SI BOY and PETUALANGAN SHERINA," conducted a three day intensive workshop that put students through the rigors of voice, pacing, movement and dialogue.

• HOW TO DEVELOP A SCREENPLAY with Davina Belling

  Davina Belling has co-produced numerous films over her 38 years including Norman Jewison’s "OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY" and Franco Zeffirelli’s "TEA WITH MUSSOLINI." ‘A writer must be someone who has a willingness to study people and to translate emotion to the page’, says Davina Belling.

 

• TRAILS AND TRIBULATIONS OF PRODUCING with Davina Belling

  How to pitch it, how to sell it - the business of writing for the screen. Davina Belling is founder of Film and General. The company most recently won the BAFTA award for Best Children’s Drama with "THE GIBLET BOYS."

• INTRODUCTION TO FILMMAKING by Salman Aristo

  Award winning script writer of "LASKAR PELANGI" and director of "PASANGAN BARU", shares his experiences, struggles and successes of filmmaking.

• CHILDREN’S CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP by Ananta Wijaya

  In conjunction with Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, the workshop focused on developing strong, interesting and memorable characters.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

• Press Conference (Sahid Jaya, Jakarta) with Festival Chairperson Rima Melati, Friend of the Festival Didi Petet, Festival Director Deborah Gabinetti and Salman Aristo.
• Exclusive Welcome Dinner at the Four Seasons Resort, Jimbaran
• ‘Standing room only’ Opening Night After Party held at Planet Hollywood
• Gala Closing Night Party and Awards Presentation at AYANA Resort and Spa

FILM HIGHLIGHTS

"INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS" (Quentin Tarantino – USA) Feature film that weaves together the infamous, oppressed, real and larger-than-life stories of WWII. Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) organizes a group of Jewish American soldiers to perform swift, shocking acts of retribution. Later known to their enemy as ‘the basterds,’ Raine’s squad is on a mission to take down the leaders of the Third Reich.

"MARY AND MAX" (Adam Elliot – Australia) Clayography feature film from Academy Award® winning writer/director Adam Elliot. A journey of friendship spanning 20 years and 2 continents between two pen-pals from very different backgrounds: Mary Dinkle a chubby lonely 8-year-old from Melbourne, Australia; and Max Horovitz a severely obese, 44-year-old Jewish man from New York City. (2009 Sundance Film Festival Opening Night Selection).

"VALENTINO: THE LAST EMPEROR" (Matt Tyrnauer - USA) Documentary traces the life of legendary fashion designer Valentino Garavani in the wake of his exit in 2008 from the company he founded more than 45 years ago. The film is an intimate, engaging and very funny fly-on-the-wall exploration of the singular world of one of Italy’s richest and most famous men. The film documents the colourful and dramatic closing act of Valentino.

"DRUPADI" (Riri Riza - Indonesia) Film adaptation of the classic Mahabharata written by Laila S. Chudori, the story tells of the dynastic struggle for the Hastinapura throne when one fateful night Yudistira gambles away all his wealth, including Drupadi, the daughter of King Drupada of Panchala, born from fire, she was the most beautiful and desirable woman of that time.

Audience Choice Award Winners

As many as 69 Short, Features and Documentary Films were submitted to the festival.

• Best Documentary

  "STILL BILL" (Damani Baker and Alex Vlack) USA

• Best Feature Film

  "TOKYO SONATA" (Kiyoshi Kurosawa) Japan

• Best Short Film

  "DARAH DAN DUPA" (Carl Valiquet) Indonesia

• Best Overall Film

  "STILL BILL" (Damani Baker and Alex Vlack) USA

>> Download the BALINALE 2009 Program (PDF file)