UPDATES

World Film Festival Announces “Official Selection” Of Indonesian War Drama On Program of Prestigious International Festival In November 2009

Producers Announce Plans to Market Independence Saga Internationally First Film Of Merdeka Trilogy Heads to Pusan, American and Berlin Markets

Media Desa, Margate House Strike DVD Distribution Deal With NAVRINDO For Most Successful Indonesian Historical Epic In Decades

Jakarta, September 15th 2009
Following one of the strongest openings in Indonesian film history, MERAH PUTIH, the country’s first big Hollywood-blockbuster-style war drama in decades, continued to break box office records for a historical drama. During the Ramadan observance, attendance soared over the one million mark in just the first few weeks of release, cementing the independence saga’s place as one of the most successful war films ever to come out of Indonesia. “We are thrilled with the wonderful reception this film has received from audiences young and old,” said Hashim Djojohadikusumo, the film’s executive producer. “ The film’s popularity across the country and its mass appeal to audiences young and old is living proof of the Indonesian people’s deep interest in our nation’s struggle for independence, the film’s message of unity and the importance of remembering the great sacrifices made by past generations.”

Yadi Sugandi, the film’s director, said, “We are truly humbled and grateful for the strong audience response and positive word of mouth this first film of the Freedom Trilogy has received from filmgoers throughout Indonesia. Passing the million mark in attendance for a serious historical war drama is a real breakthrough for our country’s film industry and a real testament to the creative vision of the producers, the strength of the story and the great talent and hard work of our great cast and crew. But to me, it also is a sign of a growing interest in the history of our country, its heroes and forefathers, and sign of a revitalized nationalist spirit and pride in Indonesia. I am deeply honored and thankful to be part of that.”

Adding to its growing domestic success, MERAH PUTIH was recently recognized internationally as an “Official Selection” by the World Film Festival of Bangkok, one of the most prestigious festivals in the Asian and global film communities, to appear in its November 2009 annual line-up. “This is the first major global film festival we were eligible to enter with our finished film in August, so to be selected officially by the World Film Festival of Bangkok is a great honor for MERAH PUTIH and all involved,” said Executive Producer and Co-Writer Rob Allyn. “It is a fantastic start to achieving one of the principal charges from the film’s Executive Producer and financier, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, which is to help tell the world about Indonesia and its history through this film, and we think November’s World Film Festival and the major film markets we have entered in Asia, the U.S. and Europe are important steps in that direction. It is clear from this strong reception by Indonesian audiences that the film’s popularity transcends gender, age, religion and ethnicity, and we believe that it will also transcend geographic borders, appealing to theatrical, TV and DVD audiences throughout Asia, Europe, the Americas and around the globe.

Global film expert and Indonesia’s QFest founder John Badalu added, “MERAH PUTIH is in rare company, joining films like LASKAR PELANGI and AYAT AYAT CINTA which are distinctly Indonesian, yet capable of drawing large audiences and achieving commercial and artistic success both in Indonesia and abroad. Bangkok’s World Film Festival is a highly respected proving ground for films from around the globe. Its nod to MERAH PUTIH says a lot about the film and its subject.”

MERAH PUTIH’s Official Selection by the World Film Festival comes on the heels of more good news for the film, arriving just days after producers finalized a deal for domestic DVD and VCD distribution rights with NAVRINDO, one of Indonesia’s leading video distributors.

“We are extremely excited to partner with domestic DVD/VCD distributor NAVRINDO to bring MERAH PUTIH not only urban residents who can attend the cinema, but also to families, homes and villages throughout Indonesia before the new year,” said Executive Producer Jeremy Stewart.

The next step, producers say, is to pursue similar distribution opportunities for cinematic release, television broadcast rights and DVD/VCD distribution to global audiences. “In the coming months, we have already officially entered MERAH PUTIH and the three films of the Freedom Trilogy into the Pusan Asian Film Market in Korea this October, the American Film Market in Santa Monica, California, this November and the Berlin Film Market in February 2010. We look forward to making further announcements in the weeks and months ahead as we respond to the great interest that foreign distributors have shown in this important Indonesian film.”

ABOUT THE FILM

MERAH PUTIH is directed by Yadi Sugandi, Indonesia’s most celebrated cinematographer and Director of Photography for LASKAR PELANGI, UNDER THE TREE, TIGA HARI UNTUK SELAMANYA and THE PHOTOGRAPH, and features an all-star ensemble cast of Indonesia’s most talented young actors: Lukman Sardi (LASKAR PELANGI, QUICKIE EXPRESS, 9 NAGA, GIE), Doni Alamsyah (FIKSI, 9 NAGA, GIE), Darius Sinathrya (UNGU VIOLET, D’BIJIS, NAGA BONAR JADI 2, LOVE), Zumi Zola (KAWIN LARIS), T. Rifnu Wikana (KADO HARI JADI, LASKAR PELANGI). The film also stars Astri Nurdin and introduces London-and-Hollywood-trained actress Rahayu Saraswati.

Shot in 35-millimeter film, MERAH PUTIH gathered a topflight team of special effects and technical experts with experience in Hollywood films: British Special Effects Coordinator Adam Howarth (SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, BLACKHAWK DOWN), Stunt Coordinator Rocky McDonald (MISSION IMPOSSIBLE II, THE QUIET AMERICAN), Make-Up and Visual Effects Artist Rob Trenton (BATMAN - THE DARK KNIGHT), Key Armorer John Bowring (CROCODILE DUNDEE II, THE MATRIX, THE THIN RED LINE, AUSTRALIA, X-MEN ORIGINS:WOLVERINE) and First Assistant Director Mark Knight (DECEMBER BOYS, BEAUTIFUL).

The film’s website and trailer can be viewed at www.filmmerahputih.com.

ABOUT THE WORLD FILM FESTIVAL OF BANGKOK

The World Film Festival of Bangkok is a showcase for global independent films, celebrating and promoting cinematic art and film appreciation for close to a decade. Screening more than 80 international titles each year with works from Europe, Latin America, Asia and Southeast Asia, the festival covers a variety of film genres and exhibitions, including short films, experimental films, documentaries and animation productions. This year, the festival runs from November 6-15. For more information, visit the Festival’s website www.worldfilmbkk.com.

Contact publicist:
ipublicist@gmail.com
Ade Kusumaningrum – 0813 19349157
Bonnie – 0818 735075

Sold-Out Houses Across Indonesia Applaud Themes Of Nationalism, Unity, Sacrifice and Heroism First Film of "Merdeka Trilogy" Makes History : One of Indonesia's Biggest Film Openings

Audience Response, Word Of Mouth Is "Best Ever, fFilm Industry Experts Say As Weekday Audiences Following Kemerdekaan Weekend Grow Even Bigger.

Jakarta, August 20th 2009 – With one of the strongest opening weeks in Indonesian film history, MERAH PUTIH, the country's first big Hollywood-blockbuster-style war drama in decades, drew more than 400,000 movie-goers seeing the film since its release on Thursday, August 13th -- the biggest opening weekend ever for a war drama or historical period piece in the history of Indonesia.

'Audience response has been amazing,' said MERAH PUTIH Executive Producer Rob Allyn. 'We knew we had a quality film to share with Indonesian audiences, combining action, drama, romance, humor and tragedy into an historically authentic story with important themes of nationalism, unity and heroic self-sacrifice. But we did not expect such a huge turnout on our first weekend, especially as this is a serious historical war drama that doesn't fit the traditional molds of popular genre films here in Indonesia. We hoped that our film would be entertaining and appealing, but we could never have dreamed that positive audience reaction and favorable word of mouth would be so strong that our weekday totals on this Tuesday and Wednesday would be even higher than the daily totals from Kemerdekaan weekend."

"This is great news for MERAH PUTIH and the Merdeka Trilogy, but more importantly, it is great news for Indonesia and the local film industry," Allyn added. "Thanks to the wonderful direction of Yadi Sugandi and this fantastic cast of actors trained by the most brilliant film-makers of Indonesia, clearly our picture has 'legs' and is on course to be one of the most successful films in Indonesian history."

Cinema 21

JAKARTA
- Plaza Indonesia
- Plaza Senayan
- Hollywood KC
- Setiabudi Bldg
- Pluit Village
- Puri Mall
- Pondok Indah Mall 1
- Senayan City
- Cilandak Town Square
- TIM
- Metropole
- Mall Kelapa Gading
- Artha Gading

BOGOR
- Bogor Botani

TANGERANG
- Serpong HI
- Karawaci

BANDUNG
- BSM
- Empire
- BTC
- Braga


Blitzmegaplex

JAKARTA
- Grand Indonesia
- Mall of Indonesia

TANGERANG
- Blitz Teraskota (BSD)

BANDUNG
- Blitz Paris Van Java (Bandung)

MERAH PUTIH
“TO BECOME FREE, THEY BECAME ONE”
HOLLYWOOD-STYLE WAR DRAMA REMINDS INDONESIA
OF THE UNITY, SACRIFICE AND NATIONALISM OF OUR FOREFATHERS
FILM SEEKS TO HELP EDUCATE THE YOUNG, RENEW THE NATIONAL SPIRIT
AND BOOST INDONESIA’S IMAGE ABROAD

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