Arisan, controversial for featuring Indonesia's firston-screen gay kiss, swept several major Citra awards including best picture atthe Indonesian Film Festival. This year, the Indonesian equivalent to theOscars was held for the first time since 1992.

Arisan's Tora Sudiro was named best actor for his role as agay man coming out of the closet, while Surya Saputra and Rachel Maryam wonbest supporting actor and best supporting actress respectively.

The satirical comedy,directed by Nia DiNata, was a box office hit in 2003. It is also the firstIndonesian film that has successfully sold home video and TV rights to NorthAmerica. The deal was done by Water Bearer Films, a distributor specialising inlesbian and gay films.

Urban drama Ada ApaDengan Cinta' (What's With Love') won two major Citra awards, includingbest director for Rudy Soedjarwo and best actress for Dian Sastrowardoyo. Thefilm was hugely successful at the local box office in 2002 with 2.6 millionadmissions.

Eliana, Eliana, which was shot on digital, won best screenplay fordirector Riri Riza and co-writer Prima Rusdi. Both Ada Apa Dengan Cinta'And Eliana, Eliana are produced by Mira Lesmana, one of the mostinfluential producers in Indonesia.

After languishing for morethan a decade, Indonesia's film industry is returning to health. In 2005, morethan 40 films are expected to be made, doubling this year's output.

One of the mosthighly-anticipated films is Gie, a true story based on the journal ofstudent activist Soe Hok Gie in the 1960s. The film, directed by Riza andproduced by Lesmana, is now in post-production.