EXCLUSIVE: HKIFF Collection has picked up sales rights to Indonesia drama Jani Be Good, which is premiering in Tokyo’s Asian Future competition, through its sales representative Beijing Monar Films.
The film marks the feature directorial debut of Indonesia’s Ariani Darmawan and received its world premiere at Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) on Tuesday (October 27).
The family drama follows four women from three generations over four days in December as a 13-year-old girl keeps a secret about her runaway sister from her single mother and grandmother. It is the first lead roles for young actors Chempa Puteri and Hyori Mika, who play the sisters in the film, and co-stars Sigi Wimala and Tutie Kirana.
The project was selected for the work-in-progress section of the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) earlier this year.
HKIFF Collection is the sales and distribution label of HKIFF Industry, which offers festival and international distribution support to independent titles. HKIFF is also the organiser of HAF, which takes place during Hong Kong Filmart.
Jani Be Good marks a return to directing for Ariani after a 15-year hiatus. Her shorts include 2008’s Sugiharti Halim, which played in competition at Clermont-Ferrand, as well as The Anniversaries (2006) and Silenced (2004), which screened at Busan and Rotterdam.
Adani also co-wrote the screenplay with novelist and poet Cyntha Hariadi and an Indonesian release is set for December 10.
Producer is Meiske Taurisia of Palari Films, whose credits include Locarno 2021 Golden Leopard winner Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash and Berlinale 2026 selection Sleep No More.
Horror usually dominates the Indonesian box office but Taurisia believes the film will offer a compelling alternative.
“The holiday season is a time for families to go to the cinema together and we believe there is an audience ready to embrace a story that feels close to their own domestic lives,” she said.
Indonesian cinema has a strong presence at this year’s TIFF, where Red Before Dawn by acclaimed filmmaker Garin Nugroho receives its world premiere in Competition.
Set in 1946, the historical drama follows the challenging journey of an Indonesian-Dutch geologist as he crosses the newly independent country to deliver an important document. Along the way he is accompanied by a former Indian soldier, a blind radio operator, a nurse and a singer.
The cast includes Nicholas Saputra, Berlinale Silver Bear winner Laura Basuki, Bront Palarae from Malaysia, Tissa Biani and Nagra Pakusadew. The film is produced by Atarui Films.
Further titles include Edwin’s Sleep No More in World Focus; and Rafael Manuel’s Filipiñana, Kamila Andini’s Four Seasons In Java, Hafiz Rancajale’s documentary Behind the Flickering Light: The Archive and Bachtiar Siagian’s 1957 classic Turang, all playing in Crosscut Asia+.
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