Finally, the Madani International Film Festival is back offline! This festival had to go online in 2020 and 2021 because it had been required to follow the COVID-19 pandemic health protocols. Offline screenings during the last two years only happened at the opening and closing, October 2021.

Of course, the return of this film festival should be welcomed. Like other film festivals, for the first time since 2020 Madani will bring together all stakeholders in the Madani context face-to-face: audiences, critics, journalists, film producers and directors, domestic and foreign distributors, and many more.

It is hoped that the audience can expand with more people to broaden the circle, not only among film stakeholders, but also among those with an interest in the friendly, inclusive, and moderate civil society/Islamic world. Therefore, we can improve the national and global relations, from a tolerance level to a co-existence level, and mutual benefits between all elements of the nation.

In addition to Epicentrum XXI and Metropole XXI, this year Madani will also be held at the Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) complex, which has just been activated after a hiatus during a revitalization program, with Kineforum as one of its screening spaces. Yes, it’s one more thing to cheer: the return of the physical space of Kineforum at TIM—this time on the Trisno Sumarjo Building, the same building as the Planetarium.

Kineforum, just as the Madani International Film Festival, is part of the Jakarta Arts Council. And the fact that these two collaborate makes us very happy. Hopefully, these programs under the Film Committee will contribute to the mission to realize the Jakarta City of Cinema.

Have a great festival.

Wassalam,