‘Yohanna’ Wins Big as ‘Happyend’ Takes Top Prize at Indonesia’s Jogja Festival

 The 19th Yogya-NETPAC Asian Film Festival has concluded in Yogyakarta (Jogya), Indonesia. Local feature film Johanna swept the Indonesian Film Awards, while Neo Sora's Happy End won the festival's Golden Hanoman Award. 

Johanna, directed by Razuka Roby Ertanto, won five awards, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Narrative, Best Acting (Laura Basuki, Kirana Putri Grasela, Equa Tarekah) and Best Cinematography (Odyssey Flores). Truong Minh Quy's Vietnam and Nam won the Silver Hanoman Award. 

Among other awards, The Maw Naing's "Ma - Cry of Silence" won the Netpac Award and the Geber Award,  Hung Chen's "When the Wind Rises" won both the Blencong Award and the JAFF Student Award, and Behzad Nalbandi's "Anita, Lost in the News" received a special mention from the jury. 

Denzel Washington attends the star ceremony honoring Lenny Kravitz  with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame  in Los Angeles, California, March 12, 2024. (Photo by JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images) 

Denzel Washington stopped voting for the Oscars after losing his Best Actor Oscar to Kevin Spacey. I don't care. I've given up. I'm bitter. ” 

The festival program included a masterclass by Taiwan-based author Tsai Ming-liang and brought together filmmakers such as Lili Liza, Mila Lesmana, Camila Andini and JAFF director Ifa Isfanshah. Three of Tsai's works were featured: "Vive L'Amour" (1994), "Goodbye, Dragon Inn" (2003), and "Abiding Nowhere" (2024). Also popular in variety shows

 The Nocturnal program returned with late-night screenings, and the event's film concert series included two performances: Garin Nugroho's "Samsara" with live music and a collaboration between artists Sar Puliadi and Kunt Aji. 

JAFF continued its inclusive film screening program "Bioscope Bisik" for the visually and hearing impaired. The festival attracted more than 24,000 visitors, the highest attendance since the festival's inception in 2006. The next JAFF20 is scheduled to return in 2025. 

The festival's first project market, the JAFF Market, was a success. "JAFF's maturity  is evident when we look at the reactions of the audience and participants this year," said Isfansyah. "We hope that all forms of enthusiasm and feedback from JAFF19 participants will be the driving force behind the vibrancy of Indonesian cinema in the coming years." 

"The packed Cinema Concert, the active participation of children and families in the Rayaru Anak Indonesiana program, and the screenings in the evening program are an opportunity to showcase the diversity of works and the diversity of actors in the film industry," added Azish Dibyo, JAFF Executive Director. "Looking forward, we hope to maintain this spirit of diversity by continuing to innovate and realize even more creative and groundbreaking expressions."

Complete List of Winners:

Main Competition

Golden Hanoman: “Happyend” (dir. Neo Sora)

Silver Hanoman: “Viet and Nam” (dir. Truong Minh Quy)

Netpac Award

“Ma – Cry of Silence” (dir. The Maw Naing)

Blencong Award

“When the Wind Rises” (dir. Hung Chen)

Special Mention for Light of Asia Section

“Anita, Lost in the News” (dir. Behzad Nalbandi)

Indonesian Screen Awards

Best Film: “Yohanna” (dir. Razka Robby Ertanto)

Best Director: Razka Robby Ertanto (“Yohanna”)

Best Storytelling: Razka Robby Ertanto (“Yohanna”)

Best Performance: Laura Basuki, Kirana Putri Grasela, Iqua Tahlequa (“Yohanna”)

Best Cinematography: Odyssey Flores (“Yohanna”)

Best Editing: Akhmad Fesdi Anggoro (“Queen of Witchcraft”)

Geber Award

“Ma – Cry of Silence” (dir. The Maw Naing)

JAFF Student Award

“When the Wind Rises” (dir. Hung Chen)