To build a Q-munity: Joko and Rizal on Q! founder

Features News - Saturday, September 01, 2007

Many words are used by John Badalu's film-industry peers to describe him: leader, motivator, father figure.

Filmmaker and writer Joko Anwar, on the other hand, thinks of John a bit differently.

"I think John is quite a crazy person," said Joko, 31. "(Indonesia) is one of the largest Muslim communities, yet he is brave enough to make a gay and lesbian film festival, and he makes sure that the festival continues from year to year."

Joko, who has known John for seven years, credits him with creating a positive event for Jakarta's queer community.

Prior to the Q! Film Festival, "the gay community didn't have anything to do besides going to clubs or hanging around at malls or other places", said Joko.

"But if you go to Blitz Megaplex or any other venue where the festival is being held, there are so many gay people volunteering for the festival. It gives them something to do, something positive, and I believe this kind of thing will empower them."

Freelance journalist and film columnist Rizal Iwan was there during the early stages of the Q! film fest's conception. A contributor to Djakarta! Magazine seven years ago, Rizal was one of six film lovers and journalists whom John recruited to helm the festival.

"John was the motivation behind all these things because he had good connections with the artsy scene in Jakarta and all the cultural centers," said Rizal, 29. "We were his minions, basically. We divided the work, we stood by in the venues and we organized the film screenings. You could say John single-handedly pulled off the festival, because he's the one who pulled everything together."

Joko noted that getting recognized by other international festivals is difficult but important for the Q! festival's longevity, especially in attracting fresh films and audiences.

"John attends many international film festivals every year," said Joko. "I think one of the requirements for a festival to 'get there' has to be acknowledgement from other festivals or the international film community. That allows the festival to screen more films, and filmmakers will be willing to submit their films for the festival, then guests will also come to the festival."

He added that John was skilled in networking among festivals. "So now the Q! Film Festival is attached to the Teddy Awards," he said, referring to the queer film award of the Berlin International Film Festival.

Joko sees Q! as creating a more positive image of gays and lesbians for the rest of society.

But this image-making works the other way as well, according to Rizal. The films screened at Q! broaden the types of portrayals of queer individuals, stretching beyond the Hollywood typecast of comic relief or object of pity.

"Not all the portrayals are good, but that's the way things are in life," said Rizal. He said this was particularly important for Jakarta's gays and lesbians who are not as film literate and wouldn't know where to begin looking for queer films.

"It really opens their horizons, that there's not only a one-dimensional representation of gays and lesbians -- there are other representations," he said.

But there's another element to the festival beyond the films. Community is integral, and Rizal said the community within Q!, especially among volunteers, is invaluable to queer youth in Jakarta.

"Most of the volunteers are young people, some in high school and university, and most have not come out yet," said Rizal.

"A lot of them don't know that there is this many people like them in the world, and by being involved they meet new people and ... others like them. It does good things for your self-acceptance."

-- Tiffany Wan

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