International Film Festivals: The Power of Censorship in Post-Reform Indonesia (1998–2008)

Abstract

This study highlights that the 1998 Reformation era in Indonesia, which replaced the 1967–1998 New Order era, brought significant changes to social, political, and cultural life. However, in the field of film, the Film Censorship Institute (LSF) continued to maintain strict censorship practices similar to those of the New Order era. The purpose of this study is to analyze how the LSF continues to carry out its role in monitoring film content despite the relaxation of policies after the Reformation, as well as to identify the factors that support the continuation of this role. The method used is historical analysis supported by interviews with organizers of international film festivals in Indonesia, while the discussion and analysis are based on social change theory and power theory. The findings show that the LSF continues to function as an instrument of state control in the Reformation era, influenced by state concerns about social and political stability, pressure from conservative groups, and diplomatic interests; through censorship, the LSF seeks to maintain public morals and protect the country's image amid globalization, so that films that raise controversial issues such as sexuality, violence, and politics often experience censorship similar to practices during the New Order era, including the rejection of several films in international film festivals in Indonesia as a form of control. The conclusion of this study confirms that although the Reformation brought greater freedom, state control through the LSF remains a political and social tool that limits the freedom of expression of filmmakers, demonstrating the continuation of film censorship practices inherited from the New Order era into the first decade of the Reformation.