Indonesian Film Specialist Works with Sydney Film Festival

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Bill Farmer, is pleased to announce that two talented young Indonesians have been awarded Asialink Arts grants to undertake a prestigious arts management internship program in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, from March until May 2008.

“Indonesia has many young and talented artists. We are delighted that they will have the opportunity to expand their creative horizons in Australia through this program,” Farmer said.

Wiwid Setya, a cinematography Professor at Jakarta’s Art Institute and line producer for Big Daddy Production Jakarta, will conduct her internship program at the Sydney Film Festival and the Australia Film Television & Radio School.

In recent years the Sydney Film Festival has showcased the best of contemporary Indonesian cinema for Australian audiences, including Garin Nugroho’s acclaimed Opera Jawa.

Meanwhile Makassar’s Abdul Hakim will conduct his internship program at Footscray Community Arts Centre and the Polyglot Puppet Theatre.

“This program has supported internships for Indonesian arts managers in major Australian arts institutions since 1998. It will promote the professional development of Indonesian arts managers as well as cultural exchange initiatives between Australia and Asia,” Farmer said.

The program is part of a prestigious Indonesia-Australia Arts Management Program, which is co-managed by the Kelola Foundation (Jakarta), Asialink, and the University of Melbourne with sponsorship from the Australia-Indonesia Institute and the Ford Foundation.

Further information:
Fiona Hoggart (Cultural Attaché) ph. (021) 2550 5260 mob. 0811 936 302