Hong Kong-based Focus Films is to handle international saleson its first ever Indonesian feature.

Janji Joni, which willreceive international market screening at AFM, is also the only Asian titlethat Focus Film (not to be confused with US outfit Focus Features) has pickedup this year. Earlier at Cannes, it acquired Hong Kong distribution rights toRichard Linklater's Fast Food Nation.

'Like First Cuts [Focus' regional project of six HD featuresmade by young Asian directors], the deal is part of our strategy in support ofnew Asian talents,' Focus Films COO Daniel Yu says. 'Indonesia is a small butgrowing market with young talents who are passionate about films. With improvedan economic and political situation, we feel the film industry there is one towatch out for.

Produced by Kalyana Shira Films' Nia Dinata, Janji Joni is the directorial debut ofIndonesian journalist Joko Anwar. The urban adventure about a film delivery boywas named best movie at the recent MTV Indonesia Movie Awards and is set toscreen at Pusan's A Window on Asian Cinema section. It iscurrently playing in Malaysia distributed through Wayang Tinggi.

'As the story is notculturally bound, it would translate fairly well with no major editing ordrastic changes in the packaging of the film from how it was released inIndonesia,' Yu explains of the film's marketing strategy.

Meanwhile, Dinata (Arisan)last week started the camera rolling on her latest film Love For Share, an Indonesia-France co-production backed by her owncompany Kalyana Shira, Indonesia's home video distributor Cinekom and France'sWallworks. The French company's Claude Kunetz has come onboard as co-producer.

The US$500,000 drama deals with the sensitive issue ofpolygamy in modern-day Indonesia. The picture is scheduled for release nextMarch in Indonesia with no international sales agent yet attached.