Indonesian Action Drama ‘The Tiger’ Spotlights Traditional Martial Arts at JAFF Market
ANP Films Indonesia’s martial arts drama “The Tiger” makes its market debut at the inaugural JAFF Market, running alongside the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF) from Dec. 3-5. The project, which showcases the traditional silat martial art style known as pamacan, aims to bring Indonesian cultural heritage to global audiences.
Director Ardiansah Sulistiana’s film centers on a family of silat practitioners in West Java whose secret tiger-style martial art becomes exposed through a viral video, leading to conflict with an outsider determined to claim their heritage.
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“Cultural diversity has its own unique appeal, and many Indonesian filmmakers are now creating regional films, even using local languages,” says Sulistiana. “This trend has proven successful, with many films attracting millions of viewers due to the fresh themes they present.”
Producer Aris Nugraha sees the project’s regional specificity as a strength. “This film is about the silat martial arts tradition in a region of Garut, West Java. This makes ‘The Tiger’ a local film, but I want to adapt it to be embraced globally.”
The film, shot primarily in the Sundanese language, emphasizes both action and cultural authenticity through its cinematography, utilizing close-ups and slow-motion shots to highlight the intricacies of silat movements while capturing the landscapes of Garut through wide shots.
Co-producer Ari Rusyadi, who assembled the production and post-production teams, points to the project’s timing with JAFF as strategic. “We’re looking for distributors and exhibitors for the release of this film. At JAFF Market forum, we’re hoping for chances to meet and discuss directly with companies that would partner on distribution or even bring the film closer to audiences through OTT [streaming] or theatrical release, and maybe festival circulation too.”
The film’s development reflects broader trends in Indonesian cinema, with Rusyadi noting the industry’s growing resources. “The access to expertise, knowledge and equipment has increased. With meticulous and persevering effort from filmmakers nowadays, we should overcome the global challenges.”
While acknowledging the challenges of bringing regional stories to wider audiences, Nugraha underlines Indonesia’s potential: “Indonesia has a rich diversity of traditions, regional languages, and natural beauty, but exploring it requires considerable time and resources.”
“The Tiger” is at the market’s Future Project platform.
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