SPECIAL: Alternative Film Projecta global non-profit film initiative founded by technology company inDrive, has announced the shortlisted films and jury for the upcoming Alternativa Film Awards.

This year’s edition will be held in Yogyakarta. IndonesiaOn November 29th. Last year’s edition was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Organizers said the Alternativa Film Awards aim to reward films that address important social and cultural issues, while also aiming to positively impact the lives of people and local communities.

This year’s award selected 25 films, including 13 feature films and 12 short films from 14 Asian countries and 20 different languages, and received 670 applications, twice as many as last year.

Almost half of the selection consists of films directed by women, and nine of the feature films are debuts.

This year’s jury members include Indian filmmaker Anand Gandhi, Indonesian director Kamila Andini, German filmmaker and writer Steffi Niederzoll, Indonesian actress Asmara Abigail, Kazakhstani filmmaker Katerina Suvorova, Iranian filmmaker Amir Masoud Soheili and Brazilian co-founder and director is taking. Taturana Institute, Carol Misorelli.

In addition to the award ceremony, public screenings and discussions of the shortlisted films will be held at the Alternativa Film Festival, which will be held between 22-28 November.

This year, the three-day Industry Days program, which aims to strengthen connections between Southeast Asian filmmakers, producers and social impact leaders, will also be held from November 27 to 29.

The awards will award $20,000 to four winners in each feature category and $10,000 each to two winners in the short film category, for a total of $100,000.

“The Alternativa Film Project is all about celebrating bold, independent voices trying to change society around them,” said Liza Surganova, president of the Alternativa Film Project. “Following last year’s successful opening ceremony, we are excited to share the incredible lineup of films and programs we have curated this year, offering something unique to filmmakers and audiences alike. “We are also proud of our extraordinary Jury of seven visionaries from around the world who graciously accepted our invitation to participate in the Awards and helped us create greater impact through the power of cinema.”

Here are the shortlisted films that make up the festival’s lineup:

FEATURES

AFTER SNOW MELT
Director: Yi-Shan Lo
Taiwan, 2024
Genre: Documentary
Languages: Mandarin, Nepali, English

A BIRD OF A DIFFERENT FEATHER
Director: Manohara K
India, 2024
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Languages: Kannada

BREAKING THE CYCLE
Director: Aekaphong Saransate, Thanakrit Duangmaneeporn
Thailand, 2024
Genre: Documentary
Languages: Thai

CU LI NEVER CRIES
Director: Pham Ngoc Lan
Vietnam, 2024
Genre: Drama
Languages: Vietnamese

GIANT
Director: Subina Shrestha
Nepal, 2024
Genre: Documentary
Languages: Nepali

BIG ME
Director: Atiye Zare Arandi
Iran, 2024
Genre: Documentary
Languages: Persian

ADAMANT GIRL
Director: Vinothraj PS
India, 2024
Genre: Drama
Languages: Tamil

Medina
Director: Aizhan Kassymbek
Kazakhstan, 2023
Genre: Drama
Languages: Kazakh

PIRCE
Director: Nelicia Low
Singapore, 2024
Genre: Thriller, Drama, Sports
Languages: Mandarin Chinese

SABA
Director: Maksud Hossain
Bangladesh, 2024
Genre: Drama
Languages: Bengali

THE STORY OF THE LAND
Director: Loeloe Hendra Komara
Indonesia, 2024
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Languages: Indonesian

GIFT
Director: Dalmira Tilepbergen
Kyrgyzstan, 2023
Genre: Drama
Languages: Kyrgyz

WOMEN FROM ROTE ISLAND
Director: Jeremias Nyangoen
Indonesia, 2023
Genre: Drama
Languages: Bahasa Rote (Daerah Indonesia)

SHORTS

#Youth / #Baguettes
Director: Lester Cristal
Philippines, 2023
Genre: Social Drama
Languages: English, Filipino

CLEANING SERVICE
Director: Nguyen Duy Anh
Vietnam, 2024
Genre: Documentary
Languages: Vietnamese

ACCIDENTALLY INTENTIONAL
Director: Kevin Rahardjo
Indonesia, 2023
Genre: Drama
Languages: Indonesian

PASS FROM MY HEART AND I WISH TO DIE
Director: Sam Manacsa
Philippines, 2023
Genre: Comedy
Languages: Tagalog

my dear daughter
Director: Hsu Pan Naing
Myanmar, 2023
Genre: Animation, Documentary
Languages: Burmese

RETURNING HOME
Director: Nyi Rai
Myanmar, 2024
Genre: Documentary
Languages: Wa, Burmese

MAYBE ONE DAY
Director: Praditha Blifa Rahayu
Indonesia, 2023
Genre: Drama
Languages: Indonesian

MY WONDERFUL LIFE
Director: Calleen Koh
Singapore, 2024
Genre: Animation
Language: Mandarin

COUNTRY OF PEACE
Director: Ekin Kee Charles
Malaysia, 2024
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Languages: Kadazandusun (Dusun language), Sabahan Malay

THE TERRIBLE SAMU AND HIS SIN
Director: Dhiwangkara Seta Rachmat
Indonesia, 2024
Genre: Thriller, Coming of Age, Drama
Languages: Indonesian

WASH
Director: Mickey Lai
Malaysia, 2024
Genre: Drama
Languages: Malay, English, Chinese

THE SAVED TREE AND THE DYING ASHES
Director: Tan Wei Ting
Singapore, 2024
Genre: Drama
Languages: Hokkien, Chinese, English