Entertainment · Film · 4 hrs ago
Australian and Indonesian filmmakers join forces on horror films
A filmmaking program brought Indonesian and regional Queensland filmmakers together to create short horror films.
The team filmed for a week in Indonesia, then continued production in Toowoomba and Pittsworth, west of Brisbane.
UniSQ lecturer Katherine Putnam said horror offers a shared language of fear that can bridge cultural and language differences.
The filmmakers said Indonesian horror often draws on religion and traditional beliefs, while Australian horror can draw on the wilderness and wide open spaces.
The program runs on a $60,000 budget from UniSQ and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Its organisers hope it will build more creative partnerships between Australia and Indonesia and reduce reliance on US financing.
Regional filmmaker Amy Parry said funding cuts to Screen Queensland could put regional creators at risk.
Filmmakers from Australia and Indonesia are working together on horror films through a program involving universities in Indonesia and regional Queensland.
The group has made short horror films in Indonesia and Toowoomba, west of Brisbane.
University of Southern Queensland lecturer Katherine Putnam said horror provided a shared language that helped bridge cultural and language barriers.
The program has a budget of $60,000, funded by the university and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Australian filmmaker Amy Parry said regional filmmakers were concerned about state government cuts to Screen Queensland funding.
- Who
- Indonesian and regional Queensland filmmakers, working with universities in both countries.
- What
- They are making short horror films together through a filmmaking program.
- When
- Not stated.
- Where
- The filmmakers filmed in Indonesia and Toowoomba, west of Brisbane.
- Why
- The program aims to build creative partnerships between Australia and Indonesia and explore their shared interest in horror.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The team filmed short horror movies in Indonesia.
The team filmed in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane.
- Program budget
- $60,000
- Funding sources
- University of Southern Queensland and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Australian filmmakers
- Three, from Cairns, Mackay and the Sunshine Coast
- Screen Queensland cuts
- At least $13 million in annual funding for the next two years
What people are saying
Fear is universal
Back in Indonesia, religion still has a big part, so the horror comes from traditional beliefs
Whereas in Australia, the scary part could be the wilderness because Australia is big and there is lots of empty space.
It would just be great for the government to also find value in the huge industry that is here and bringing so much money into the state.