Madani IFF x Binus University
The world of research and academia is an ecosystem’s element that should synergize and collaborate with the others, such as film festival.
This year, the Film Department at Binus University will disseminate its research related to the burgeoning pocong films (“pocongsploitation”). The research team, consisting of Ekky Imanjaya and,Nayla Majesty, analyzed pocong films, a theme close to Indonesian Muslim funeral processions and rituals. However, films with this theme are almost non-existent in other Muslim countries.
Pocong is an undead body, similar but not the same as zombie. By focusing on two routes (the serious and the popular), we will discuss the characteristics of pocong films, especially the narrative elements, mise-en-scene, and sound design.
There will also be the discussion of two books related to global cinema and Islam edited by Kristian Petersen, Assistant Professor at the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Old Dominion University. The two books raise new scientific issues and approaches related to Islam and film. These are Muslims in the Movies: A Global Anthology and New Approaches to Islam in Film.
Pocong Film and Muslim World
Video Essay “What Makes A Film A Pocong Film?”
By Ekky Imanjaya and Nayla Majestya
Pocong (shroud ghost) films are a unique film subgenre from Indonesia, the largest muslim country. Similar yet different from zombies, pocong originally comes from the Islamic burial tradition. Shrouding the deceased is one of the steps in the burial ritual service for muslims after the washing session. However, while pocong film hasn’t become a cinematic trend in most muslim countries, this subgenre proliferates in Indonesia. At least, there are 45 films containing pocong in their titles or keywords, particularly in the last 20 years. The trend increases in the 2000s (with 25 titles) and 2010s (15 titles), and still counting.
Binus Film’s Nayla Majestya and Ekky Imanjaya teams up to research pocong films and disseminate their findings in the Madani International Film Festival 2022. Dr. Hariyadi from Universitas Jenderal Soedirman—an expert in Islamic film and currently is doing research on horror films—will respond to these findings.
The discussion will elaborate on how pocong becomes one of the most popular horror icon in Indonesia and the cinematic conventions of such film. Also, to what extend can we consider that pocong films have strong connections with muslim cultures, particularly folklores and urban legend stories?
Speakers
Ekky Imanjaya (Research Team, Binus University)
Nayla Majestya (Research Team, Binus University)
Hariyadi (Lecturer, Universitas Jendral Soedirman)
Moderator
Devina Sofiyanti (Lecturer, Binus University)
Sunday, October 9, 2022 at 4 - 5.30 pm | Live on Madani IFF Youtube Channel
Cinema and Muslim Cultures in Film Studies Discourse
Muslims in The Movies: A Global Anthology. (Ilex Foundation and Harvard University Press, 2021)
New Approaches to Islam in Film (Routledge, 2021) with the editor Dr. Kristian Petersen (Old Dominion University)
Muslims in Cinema is one of the main spirits of Madani International Film Festival. A lot of aspects on the topic can be explored, both audio-visually and scholarly. Therefore, Binus University’s Film Department invites Dr. Kristian Petersen to discuss the topic. He is the editor of edited collections Muslims in the Movies: A Global Anthology and New Approaches to Islam in Film. It is hoped that this event will result in a fruitful discussion with fresh approaches and perspectives.
Speakers
Dr. Kristian Petersen (Old Dominion University)
Moderator
Ekky Imanjaya (Lecturer, Binus University)
Thursday, October 13, 2022 at 7.30 - 9 pm | Live on Madani IFF Youtube Channel