UDINE FAR EAST FILM 12 : 23 April/1 May 2010

It flies the Indonesian flag, it is signed, sealed and delivered by the outstanding Joko Anwar, it is one of the events of Far East Film 12: the new, highly-anticipated festival trailer (from which, let us not forget, the image on this year's official festival poster was taken)!

Following in the footsteps of numerous local Friulian talents, as well as the great Pang Ho-cheung and the young Slovenian Špela Čadež, Joko has put his name to the short masterpiece that will accompany all the screenings in this twelfth edition.

A few seconds to select and edit the frames of one of life's eternal pleasures, images of a traditional night-time funfair, of an arena and an acrobat shot, almost covertly, with a digital camera in Solo, in the heart of the island of Java. A few seconds (40 in all) to articulate four fundamental key words: EXOTIC, AUTHENTIC, HANDS-FREE, NO SAFETY.

Rather than being an affectionate allegory, Joko's choice seems to be a genuine synthesis: a story of a Festival, as stimulating as it is daring, which continues to obstinately walk a tightrope, with no safety net; to drive hands-free, with total freedom and independence. "Far East Film has limited financial resources," writes Joko in a letter sent to the organisers. "But it has courage! I am its fan Numero Uno! I love this festival because it brings together the enthusiasts and industry workers in one big, happy family..."

Joko Anwar, venerated in his homeland as a guru and much-appreciated by the Far East Film public (he wrote the scripts for Fiksi, Forbidden Door - which he also directed  - and Quicky Express, the very first Indonesian title to appear in the history of FEFF), he is certainly one of the most eccentric and versatile players in the contemporary Asian scene: a director, actor, screenwriter, singer and dancer, a refined film-buff with strong Lynchian leanings, he is also an avid consumer of pop, rock, indie and techno music.

Could there be a character more in-line with the tastes and style of the Friuli-based festival?

Organised in Udine by the Centro Espressioni Cinematografiche with the Teatro Nuovo, its traditional setting along with the spaces at the Visionario, the twelfth Far East Film will takes its place in the spotlight from 23 April to 1 May. A colourful and lively event, just like the funfair in the festival trailer by Joko Anwar. A genuine cinema-fest which, without ever betraying its bywords of quality/entertainment, has slowly but surely managed to etch itself a place in the increasingly crowded international circuit of Asian films.

www.fareastfilm.com