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Biopics mostly stand by themselves though often try to weave in historical events to stay relevant. And there are historical films too which throw light on some long-forgotten annals of the yore. Here we have a biography which is an integral part of Indonesia’s recent history.

“A Man Called Ahok” is screening at

Cinemasia Film Festival

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama whose Chinese name is Ahok narrates his story from prison. He was the son of the Tauke (Big boss) Kim Nam from the island of Belitung and ran a mining business. His father helped the poor and needy even when his own business was not doing well. Ahok’s early experiences are built from what he sees of his father and the expectation the father has from his son. After an unsuccessful stint at running the mining business, Ahok decides to be the man in power as it was the...

The full programme and tickets for the 13th edition of CinemAsia is now available online. This year, CinemAsia will introduce films from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, India, Bhutan, Thailand and The Philippines. Enjoy the biggest box office hits, like “Exit”, “Gundala”, and “The Wild Goose Lake”, and check out the work by upcoming and young directors from Asia, like “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom”, “Moonlit Winter” and “Dolly Kitty and Those Twinkling Stars”. There is something for every Asian cinema lover!

Online ticket sales start today. Explore the complete programme below or check out their website for more details about their complete film selection.

Special Focus Diaspora: “Neither Burned, nor Banished”

CinemAsia Film Festival traditionally screens a wide variety of Asian diaspora films. This year we’ve asked veteran film programmer and critic Léo Soesanto to guest curate a special selection of five films that represent...

We first came across Indonesian director Putrama Tuta back in 2011 with his slick looking Catatan Harian Si Boy, a film that stood out with its impressive production values and approach to story that marked its creator as a solid notch above most of his local contemporaries. And now Tuta is back with a magical realist fantasy that looks even more impressive. Happy Birthday Everyday looks and feels like the sort of film that would fit in with Last Life In The Universe director Pen-Ek Ratanaruang's early filmography, telling the story of a famous writer struggling to create his masterwork when he realizes that he has died and is living within his own story. With Happy Birthday Everyday now in post and aiming for an...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Exclusive: Film centres on a dead writer who discovers he is living inside his own story.

Indonesian director Putrama Tuta is set to start shooting romantic thriller Happy Birthday Every Day in Jakarta on April 17.

Produced by John Badalu and Dewi Piay through The United Team Of Art, the film revolves around a dying writer attempting to write his masterpiece who realises that he is already dead and living inside his own story.

The script was written by Ilya Sigma, who also wrote Tuta’s award-winning 2011 debut Boy’s Diary. The cast is headed by Indonesian TV star Anjasmara Prasetya, who will play the writer, and actress Fahrani Pawaka Empel, who previously starred in Joko Anwar’s Kala.

“It’s a story, rooted in magic realism, about acceptance of death that tackles the subject in a positive way,” said Tuta.

Tuta’s credits as director also include rockumentary Noah Awal Semula. He is also...

Kshay by Karan Gour and Michael by Ribhu Dasgupta will compete for the Asian New Talent Award and Color of Sky by Dr.Biju Damodaran will compete for the Golden Goblet Award at the 15th Shanghai International Film Festival.

The Golden Goblet Award is for the main competition section of the festival. The Asian New Talent Award ‘aims at identifying the new bright lights and encouraging their creativity’.

The 15th Shanghai International Film Festival will be held from June 16-24, 2012. Founded in 1993, it is China’s only A-category international film festival accredited by the Fiapf (International Federation of Film Producers’ Association).

Asian New Talent Awards 2012

Big Blue Lake; dir. Jessey Tsang [Hong Kong]

Boy’s Diary; dir. Putrama Tuta [Indonesia]

The Client; dir. Sohn Young-sung [South Korea]

Follow Follow; dir. Peng Lei [China]

I Have Loved; dirs. Lai Weijie, Elizabeth Wijaya[Singapore/Cambodia/Malaysia]

Kshay; dir. Karan Gour [India]

Michael; dir. Ribhu Dasgupta [India]

Pearls of the Far East Ngọc viễn đông; dir.