Sakti Parantean, International Winner, International Young Screen Entrepreneur (IYSE) 2008

Sakti (1974) left a career in finance and business to become founder, executive producer & film director of Fictionary Media Technology (FMT). Set-up in Jakarta in 2001, the boutique production company create audio-visual products –from TV programmes and commercials to documentary films— as well as providing location services for international production teams. FMT was the first local company trusted by MTV Indonesia to supply programs for the channel. Sakti has a special interest in documentary filmmaking and ventures to capture controversial events and exotic scenes. His film A Different Jakarta won Special Jury Mention Award in Festival Film Dokumenter (FFD) 2007 and in April 2008 he became the first Indonesian filmmaker to contribute to Al Jazeera English special feature program, with his film The Art of Deception.

Sakti became the second Indonesian to win the British Council IYCE Screen Award at the London Film Festival in October 2008 after Wahyu Aditya in 2007. His competition includes entrepreneurs from China, India, Lithuania, Nigeria, Poland, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, and Thailand. Today, Indonesia is the only country in the world to have won two Screen Awards in two consecutive years.

Sakti won for his 'Hybrid! Fictionary’ business model, which employs often-neglected Indonesian filmmakers from outside Jakarta meet the demand of the burgeoning national TV and film industries. Sakti identified and connected 30 local film makers in Jakarta, Jogjakarta, Bandung, and Denpasar to the international industry. Working with these local talents, Sakti pushed the film production standard to meet those set by national and international film industry. Local film makers upgraded their skills through indirect coaching and mentoring in between production. Film consumers enjoyed the revival of many old cinemas that screened independent - mostly low-budget - film. Film industry benefited from more and more talents available to work with.

With his £ 7,500 British Council prize money, he plans to expand the programme to include a UK-Asia short film-making collaboration, film workshops featuring UK and international directors, and the establishment of Screen Lab in Yogyakarta that function as a commercial and learning hub for filmmakers in the region.

UK jury citation:

"Sakti gave a deeply thought through and clearly executed explanation of the challenges and opportunities for the screen sector in Indonesia. He is highly impressive in business terms, with an underlying social and moral dimension to his company, using film to do something extra by creating excellent models of infrastructure in his country. The jury were touched and inspired by his vision and believe he is both an entrepreneur and a leader."