TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-A short film made by an Indonesian director Bayu Prihantoro Filemon titled ‘On the Origin of Fear’ has been selected for the Orizzonti section at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival, which will be held on August 31 to September 10, 2016, in Venice, Italy. Orizzonti is a competitive section for films representing the latest aesthetic and expressive trends.

The 12-minute-long film will have its world premiere at the world’s oldest film festival. “In many events, it is evident that violence and reproduction of violence have been monopolized by the state. Include in the event where the state and the cinema conspire to reproduce violence, terror, and fear, in the name of history,” said Bayu, the Yogyakarta-based director, on the background of the film he wrote and directed.

‘On the Origin of Fear’ is Bayu’s debut film as a director. Bayu had previously been working as a cinematographer in ‘Vakansi yang Janggal dan Penyakit Lainnya’, ‘Istirahatlah Kata-Kata’ and ‘Kisah Cinta yang Asu’, which had already been screened at international film festival circuits.

Producers Amerta Kusuma and Yulia Evina Bhara said “the film was our effort as Indonesian youths to revisit the [nation’s] vague history. The film was based on the trauma of witnessing the reproduction of violence in the film which used to be screened on September 30 during the New Order [Orde Baru] era”.

Amerta Kusuma added: “‘On the Origin of Fear’ is one of four short films marking 50 years since the ’65 tragedy, in the hope that the issue would no longer be a taboo in discussion forums and [for people to be able to] grasp Indonesia’s dark history. We are hopeful that new, progressive initiative would be made to address it in order for younger generations to look further ahead and not to repeat past tragedies.”

‘On the Origin of Fear’ was produced through the collaboration between KawanKawan Film, Limaenam Films and Partisipasi Indonesia.

RELEASE | WD