International film festivals: The power of censorship in post-reform Indonesia (1998–2008)

Abstract

Indonesia’s 1998 Reformasi marked a transition from the authoritarian New Order (1967–1998) to a democratic political system that expanded freedom of expression. Nevertheless, the Indonesian Film Censorship Board (Lembaga Sensor Film/LSF) continued to play a central role in regulating film circulation. This study examines the persistence of film censorship during the early Reformasi period and identifies the political, social, and institutional factors sustaining it. Using historical methods, the study integrates archival research with interviews involving organizers of international film festivals in Indonesia. Drawing on theories of social change and power, the findings reveal that the LSF remained an instrument of state control despite democratization. This continuity was driven by concerns over political and social stability, pressure from conservative groups, and diplomatic interests. As a result, films addressing sensitive issues, including politics, religion, sexuality, and violence, continued to face censorship or prohibition, including at international film festivals. The study concludes that Reformasi altered the political context of censorship but not its institutional logic, allowing state control over cultural expression to persist in post-authoritarian Indonesia.