Video Contests, Film Festivals, and Awards

The 7th Indonesian Film Festival is proud to have Paper Boat (Perahu Kertas) in the festival's films line up.

From the mind of the talented novelist Dewi "Dee" Lestari is yet another beautiful piece, Perahu Kertas (Paper Boat). Adapted into cinematic form, Perahu Kertas has gained significant following since its first release on the 12th of August, and rightly so, for the movie is one of a kind.
 
Perahu Kertas tells the story of Kugy and Keenan, a pair of university best friends with dreams of their own. Kugy dreams of being a novelist, while Keenan wishes to be a painter, and together, they must overcome a series of obstacles to reach their dreams. A colourful array of characters make what may seem a typical romantic comedy into a surprisingly deep lesson in love and the puzzle of life, and where hope fits into it all.
 
Dewi Lestari's novels are well-known for their realistic simplicity. She is a wonderful storyteller that is capable of stringing beautiful stories together, and her novels have won several nominations and critical acclaim. The film adaptation is directed by Hanung Bramantyo, a prolific director in the Indonesian movie scene. His movie portfolio ranges from the comedic Brownies (2004) to the religious, controversial Ayat-Ayat Cinta (2008), evidence of his versatility and a capability to portray the depth of human emotion on screen. He is the recipient of many accolades, including two Citra Awards for Best Director at the Indonesian Film Festival.
 
Perahu Kertas is a charming story, at times sweet and at times whimsical. It carries a serene, fairytale-like quality throughout; nevertheless, it deals with profound and universal themes, including lost hopes and far-reaching dreams. There is something in the movie for everybody; a perfect piece for the artist in us all. The film will be screened on Friday the 12th of October 2012, 9.15PM at the RMIT Capitol Theatre.

Synopsis:

The story focuses on the roller-coaster relationship of Kugy; an aspiring fairytale writer who loves to make paper boats from origami, and Keenan; a talented painter who is forced to study Economics. Their group of friends also consists of Noni; Kugy’s childhood friend, and Eko; Noni’s boyfriend and also Keenan’s cousin. They admire each other and begin to secretly fall in love. However, Kugy and Keenan seem unable to express their feelings because of the obstacles occurred along the way, such as Kugy’s current relationship with Ojos, who seems to not understand her unique habits; Wanda, Noni’s friend who becomes close to Keenan; Keenan’s escape to Bali to learn how to paint; and Remi, Kugy’s boss, with whom she later develop a relationship. Just like an origami paper boat that flows on the river, their love story has to face obstacles and unfavorable circumstances.

Resources:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ6xZyEjZY8

http://iffmelbourne.com/