'Tabula Rasa' Movie Screened In Sofia International Film Festival

JAKARTA, March 27 (Antara) - An Indonesian movie, Tabula Rasa, directed by Adriyanto Dewo was screened at the 22nd Sofia International Film Festival (SIFF) which took place from March 7-29, 2018 in several cinemas in Bulgaria. Tabula Rasa was the first Indonesian movie screened in the film festival, according to a press statement received here on Monday. Tabula Rasa was featured on Friday during the Indonesia Movie Night at Cinema House in Sofia, Bulgaria. Around 80 thousand people watched various international films played in the SIFF. Tabula Rasa was included in a special segment based on a request from the festival committee as two other Indonesian films had failed to join the competition. Tabula Rasa tells the story of a Papuan man named Hans. Hans comes to Jakarta to become a professional soccer player. However, he fails to become a professional player which leads him to meet Mak Uwo. From Mak Uwo, he learns to become a cook in a Padang restaurant. The film featured Padang's signature dishes that make audience salivate. Rendang, beef simmered in coconut milk and spices, was also displayed in the movie. The audience who came from various backgrounds in Bulgaria ranging from diplomats, government officials, academics tostudents expressed enthusiasm after watching the movie. Tabula Rasa producer Sheila Timothy expressed happiness as the audience in Sofia seemed to enjoy the movie. "Hopefully, the movie can put the audience in the spirit of celebrating diversity," she said. Indonesian Ambassador to Bulgaria, Albania, and Macedonia Sri Astari Rasjid expected that the integrated culinary, film, and tourism promotion could increase the number of tourists visiting Indonesia. The ambassador expressed support for Indonesia's creative industries to grow in international level.