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New Import Policy Will Kill Indonesian Film Industry: Noorca
Jakarta Globe | February 21, 2011

Indonesian cinema industry giant Cineplex 21 said it welcomed competition with foreign investors but called on the government to put a priority on local distributors. Indonesian cinema industry giant Cineplex 21 said it welcomed competition with foreign investors but called on the government to put a priority on local distributors.
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Wong Edan
1:51pm Feb 21, 2011

@Artemus: How right you are. Trashy Indonesian films are all about exploitation of women, violence and irrational beliefs - a million miles from Islam

KneecZar
1:35pm Feb 21, 2011

Artemus Jones

If you try to read between the lines, and do some thinking, you might see that it just maybe part of something bigger. You can't be so naive not to notice where this country is heading with all that has been happening lately. The division lines have been drawn between muslims, developing into a deeper chasm as each day passes. I personally am a conspiracy theorist, and am fearful in the possibilities.

Again, it is just an opinion, may I dare say an educated speculation, but nonetheless a mere opinion. You are of course free to draw your own conclusion.

cdonny
1:29pm Feb 21, 2011

what's the relation between implementing new tax regulation and an attempt to increase the national film industry? What the Govt has done through these years to improve national film industry though there are already high taxes for film makers.


Artemus Jones
1:12pm Feb 21, 2011

I often wonder if people actually read this newspaper or just use its comments feature to rail against Islam and Muslims. This article has nothing to do with religion. It's not a ban on Western films but a boycott by the Western film studios themselves. How about we just leave it out.

KampungHighlander
8:00am Feb 21, 2011

Once again the SBY "New Disorder" regime enacts policy without thinking it through.

This new law should make the vendors of Pirate DVD's very happy.

Prominent film figure Noorca M. Massardi has appealed on the government to revoke a new import policy that has led to the halting of foreign-film distribution in Indonesia and could deal a crippling blow to the Indonesian cinema and film industries. 

He called on all concerned citizens to harness the power of social media to demand the government revoke the unusual regulation.  

In a letter sent to Kompas.com, Noorca, who is the chairman of the Indonesian Cinemas Association and spokesman for 21 Cineplex, Indonesia’s largest movie theater chain with 500 screens, clarified that the decision was taken after the government refused to respond to the arguments presented against the import policy that went into effect in January 2011. 

“It is an outrageous import tax on distribution rights that has never before existed in any film business practice in the world,” he wrote in the letter. 

He explained that before the new tax was imposed, each film brought into Indonesia was already slapped with three kinds of tax that total 23.75 percent of the value of the item. A further 15 percent revenue tax goes to the country’s tax coffers, and, in addition, district governments impose entertainment taxes ranging from 10 to 15 percent of ticket sales. 

“Tax should only be imposed on imported items,” he wrote. “Films are copyrighted materials … People can only watch films screened at cinemas, they can’t bring the films home. The government is disrespecting and exploiting copyrights if it continues with the new regulation to charge the distribution rights.”  

Aside from not bringing in new foreign films to Indonesian cinemas beginning Feb. 17, Noorca said that films that have already entered the country, such as “Black Swan,” “True Grit,” and “127 Hours,” will also not be shown in cinemas.  

As a result, he said, the 10,000 employees of 21 Cineplex and their families are threatened.  

“Every year, cinemas screen 50 to 80 local titles and 100 to 150 foreign titles. If the government does not revoke this new policy, it will kill the cinema industry in Indonesia,” he told the Jakarta Globe Friday evening. “If no solution is found, Indonesian cinemas will close down one by one.”  

Further, he said in the letter to Kompas, the impact of the policy would also be felt by restaurants and other establishments near cinemas in shopping malls. 

The central and local governments also will lose film import tax and entertainment tax revenues, he added.  

He called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to immediately order his subordinates to revoke the regulation. And he called on lawmakers to question the officials responsible for the policy.