Local filmmaker Abdul Zainidi’s Cloud Jacket received an encouraging response from visitors of the Art Stage Osaka 2024 at the Osaka International Convention Centre in Japan, from September 21 to 23.
Abdul Zainidi represented Brunei Darussalam in the international exhibition mainly featuring video artworks by artistes from countries recommended by ambassadors and consuls under the theme ‘World Art Osaka – Montage of the Unseen’.
After his trip, Abdul Zainidi shared, “People at Art Stage Osaka 2024 found my film intriguing and captivating, mainly because it featured sign language and individuals with special needs, which earned me a nomination from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.”
He recalled, “As a filmmaker, getting to travel to many different countries is exciting. I’ve visited places like South Korea, the Philippines, and Germany. Being selected for an event like Art Stage Osaka was a huge honour. My nomination was suggested by the Brunei Darussalam Embassy in Japan, which was contacted by Art Stage Osaka to recommend Bruneian filmmakers.”
He added, “The event was organised with other participating embassies from around the world, artistes as far as Benin and Panama were invited. The exhibition held at the Osaka International Convention Centre is the equivalent of the International Convention Centre in Brunei, except with many floors and free flowing coffee.”
The young filmmaker also shared, “The aim of the programme, titled ‘Montage of the Unseen’, was to present the diverse works of the filmmakers, where the public can view and culturally take a piece of their country in visual and auditory form, like a visual running postcard.” Abdul Zainidi described his film Cloud Jacket, a story about a boy with an illness confined to his room and battling a monster under his bed by creating a cloud jacket, was both an allegory and metaphor on not giving up and showcased a strange and fairy tale world of Brunei.
The press screening in Japan, he said, “had us explain our works to the press and every detail from the film including the theme of ‘redha’ in Islam and Brunei culture was highlighted, the fact that we must accept what challenges in life Allah the Almighty brings us. The mention of ‘redha’ was an important cultural highlight which struck a chord with the Japanese press and audiences”.
He added, “Each booth was individually labelled with the title of each filmmaker’s film and duration. I made sure to have my Brunei flag in hand to display my national pride as a Bruneian filmmaker.”
Besides the exhibition, Abdul Zanidi enjoyed exploring Japan and making new friends.
“Art Stage Osaka organised a trip to museums, including the Kawakyu Museum in Wagayama prefecture. We stayed at the Voco Osaka hotel.
“The trip was optional but I wanted to enjoy the trip to the maximum. So we departed by bus and the trip lasted a day. The museum we visited, the Kawakyu Museum in Shirahama area, was akin to the Hogwarts castle.
“Lunch and dinner was provided for, the traditional sushi was superb or kawaii as they say in Japan. And it allowed us to bond and get to know the other artistes as well since we all came from different sides of the world.
“Once again it goes without saying I was proud as a lion in the jungle. The trip was educational and allowed us to explore outside Osaka.”
On September 23, he said, “the other filmmakers/artistes threw me a surprise birthday party at the hotel and a nearby restaurant after, I slipped out that the trip was particularly meaningful to me because not only was I being invited to represent my country but that it would also coincide with my birthday. I was touched and emotional that the organisers had planned a secret birthday gathering that night in presence of the other artistes too”.
My days leading up to my departure was a mix of exploration, shopping and eating Japanese food mainly trying the famous chain, Sushiro for on the go sushi on conveyor belts. A trip to Don Quijote was just mandatory to scout for gifts for friends and family. I was also blessed to be able to enjoy shopping in Japan as well to my heart’s content and act like a child in front of gashapon machines and marvel at the Osaka tower.
Leaving Osaka, he said, “I felt a bit like when you were a child leaving a candy or toy shop, you wish you could just stay there. I felt heartbroken on my flight back to Brunei a few days after the event, but deep inside I know I will be returning again as I feel like filmmakers are lucky individuals who do get to travel with their work, and as blessed as I am I know that many other destinations will open up and present themselves to me like a gachapon egg – you never know what you are going to get inside.” – James Kon
