The inaugural screening of three short films, winners of the Short Film Pitching Project (SFPP) at Europe on Screen (EoS) 2023, took place on Sunday, June 9, 2024, at Europe on Screen 2024. These films are "Tinah Buys Cigarette" by Gugun Arief from Banyuwangi, "Firman Firman" by Kurnia Alexander from Jakarta, and "How to be a Man" by William K from Tangerang. The premiere event was attended by Stéphane Mechati, Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to Indonesia, along with Meninaputri Wismurti and Nauval Yazid, Co-Directors of the EoS 2024 Film Festival.

"Europe continues to support young Indonesian filmmakers to grow and continue to create films with diverse ideas and stories. Through the Short Film Pitching Project at the Europe on Screen Film Festival, we not only help them produce film ideas but also connect them with professionals, both in the European and Indonesian film industries, to share and exchange knowledge," said Stéphane Mechati, Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to Indonesia.

In the SFPP EoS 2023 competition, the film ideas of the three winners surpassed seven other finalists and received a total partial production grant of Rp. 108.5 million, post-production audio facilities, film production classes, and special gifts from EoS, SAE Indonesia, and Kemala Home Living.

"In 2023, there were 171 story ideas registered in the SFPP competition at Europe on Screen. Choosing these three winning films was not easy with so many interesting ideas from various parts of Indonesia. Finally, the jury selected story ideas that were considered representative of the situations and issues in our society and could be produced in the near future to premiere at Europe on Screen 2024," said Meninaputri Wismurti, Co-Director of the EoS 2024 Film Festival.

Since its inception in 2018, SFPP has been a short film competition inviting novice filmmakers to submit their short film ideas. Out of all the applicants, 10 finalists are selected to present their ideas to the jury, who then determine the three winners.

Nauval Yazid, Co-Director of the Europe on Screen 2024 Film Festival, said, "The three short film story ideas from SFPP 2023 felt very fresh, something we haven't encountered in the SFPP program in previous years. Coupled with unique filmmaking styles, the winning short films of SFPP 2023 can and deserve to be screened at other film festivals in Indonesia and abroad."

The first winning film, "Tinah Buys Cigarettes," is a 20-minute film starring Vonny Anggraini, Betet Kunamsinam, and Mbeno Aji Putro. The film, which uses Indonesian and Javanese languages, tells the story of a wife who is exhausted with her marriage but regains strength when attacked by motorcycle thugs. Gugun Arief, the director of "Tinah Buys Cigarettes," said that his win at SFPP EoS 2023 marked the beginning of an opportunity to enter the film industry, both locally and internationally. The next step he took was to submit "Tinah Buys Cigarettes" to various film festivals.

"To date, 'Tinah Buys Cigarettes' has been submitted to four local and international festivals that are our priorities. While waiting for the results, we will submit it to other film festivals and hold non-regular local screenings," explained Gugun.

"Firman Firman" tells the story of Firman, an actor who tries to maintain his identity and privacy when interviewed for his latest film. Kurnia Alexander, the director, narrated the process of selecting the actor who plays Firman, which fell to actor Mochisyam Hidayat.

"I first met Isyam at a film screening, and I could already see that there was something unique about him. There was a kind of star aura that was attractive and visible in this meeting, coupled with vulnerability and his cool attitude. As soon as I knew he could act, I was immediately interested in casting him," explained Kurnia.

The third winning film, "How to be a Man," is set in a swimming club and tells the story of Farel, who feels insecure because of growing fine hairs around his navel. According to director William K, the biggest challenge faced was the lead actor, Muzakki Ramdhan, who couldn't swim freestyle.

"Making Zaki's swimming movements look convincing was a challenge for us. So before the shooting process began, we held freestyle swimming training sessions for Zaki. Moreover, our shooting location had a pool with a uniform depth of 2 meters, so we provided a lifeguard to ensure the safety of the actors during swimming scenes," recalled William.

Following the premiere, the compilation of the three winning short films from SFPP EoS 2023 will be screened at:

- KEK Singhasari Content Garage, Sidoarjo, on June 10, 2024, at 18:30 WIB
- IFI Yogyakarta on June 11, 2024, at 16:30 WIB
- Kineforum Taman Ismail Marzuki Jakarta on June 13, 2024, at 16:30 WIB
- AF Medan on June 14, 2024, at 19:00 WIB.

All information about EoS 2024, including film screening schedules and all programs during the festival, can be obtained at www.europeonscreen.org and on the official Europe on Screen Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook accounts.