List of film directors of the Dutch East Indies explained
Twenty-nine people are recorded as having directed fictional films in the Dutch East Indies between 1926, when L. Heuveldorp released Loetoeng Kasaroeng, the colony's first domestically produced film, and 1949, when the Dutch formally recognised Indonesia's sovereignty after a four-year revolution, leaving the Dutch East Indies defunct. Thirteen directors active in the Indies continued to direct films after 1950, including Usmar Ismail: his 1950 film Darah dan Doa (The Long March) is generally considered the first truly Indonesian film.
The colony's first directors, L. Heuveldorp and George Krugers, were of European or mixed descent. They were followed by ethnic Chinese soon after, when Nelson Wong made his debut in 1928 with Lily van Java; other Chinese directors included Lie Tek Swie (1929), Wong's brothers Joshua and Othniel (1930), and The Teng Chun (1931). Ethnic Chinese directors dominated the colony's cinema for the remainder of its existence. The first native director, Bachtiar Effendi, made his debut in 1932 with the talkie Njai Dasima; another native director would not appear until Andjar Asmara and Rd Ariffien made their debuts in 1940.
The directors active in the Indies came from various backgrounds. Some, like The Teng Chun, Fred Young, and the Wongs, had been interested in film since their youth. Others, such as Njoo Cheong Seng and Andjar, had a background in theatre. Still others, including Albert Balink and Ismail, were journalists by trade. They were all men; the first woman to direct a film in the Indonesian archipelago, Ratna Asmara, made her debut after the Indies were dissolved. Between them, the 29 men directed some 103 films, at times working collaboratively; it was not unusual for them to take more than one role in production. However, they generally had less creative control than the producer.
The following list is sorted alphabetically by default, with further sorting capability in certain fields; owing to differing naming conventions between cultures, not all entries are sorted by last name. The list only counts fictional films directed by the subjects and does not include films from other genres or films in which the person held other roles. The names of persons credited with an abbreviated name are written in full, where available.
Film directors
Key | Indicates continued directorial activity after 1949 | |
Works cited
- Web site: Abisin Abbas Filmografi . Abisin Abbas Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416182510/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b9bad3846f1c_andjar-asmara/filmography . 16 April 2014 . . dead.
- Web site: Albert Balink Filmografi . Albert Balink Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416182337/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b9bad3ad646e_albert-balink/filmography . 16 April 2014 . . dead.
- Web site: Bachtiar Effendy Filmografi . Bachtiar Effendy Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416182201/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b852ab7a0a98_bachtiar-effendy/filmography . 16 April 2014 . . dead.
- Book: Biran
, Misbach Yusa
. Misbach Yusa Biran
. . History of Film 1900–1950: Making Films in Java . Indonesian . Misbach Yusa Biran . Jakarta . Komunitas Bamboo working with the Jakarta Art Council . 2009 . 978-979-3731-58-2 .
- Web site: Boen Kim Nam Filmografi . Boen Kim Nam Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416181353/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b9bad37cf310_boen-kim-nam/filmography . 16 April 2014 . . dead.
- Web site: Djatoeh Berkait . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 27 January 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131202204321/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/title/lf-d014-44-546090_djatoeh-berkait . 2 December 2013 . . dead.
- Web site: Fred Young Filmografi . Fred Young Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150220131732/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b9bad3b7af11_fred-young/filmography . 20 February 2015 . . dead.
- Web site: Inoe Perbatasari Filmografi . Inoe Perbatasari Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416182039/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b9bad3bbb98a_inoe-perbatasari/filmography . 16 April 2014 . . dead.
- Web site: G. Krugers Filmografi . G. Krugers Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416181203/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b6fdb997a995_g-krugers/filmography . 16 April 2014 . . dead.
- Web site: Henry L Duarte Filmografi . Henry L Duarte Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416192021/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b9bad3821181_henry-l-duarte/filmography . 16 April 2014 . . dead.
- Book: I.N.
, Soebagijo
. 1981 . Indonesian . Jagat Wartawan Indonesia . Universe of Indonesian Journalists . Gunung Agung . Jakarta . 7654542 .
- News: Indische filmkunst . Indies Cinema . Dutch . De Indische Courant . Surabaya . 11 June 1931 . 5 . .
- Web site: Jo An Djan Filmografi . Jo An Djan Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416175546/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b9bad3818ab8_jo-an-djan/filmography . 16 April 2014 . . dead.
- Web site: Jo An Tjiang Filmografi . Jo An Tjiang Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416191519/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b9bade441751_jo-an-tjiang/filmography . 16 April 2014 . . dead.
- Web site: Joshua Wong Filmografi . Joshua Wong Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140219215304/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b8525046cbc6_joshua-wong/filmography . 19 February 2014 . . dead.
- Book: Kahin
, George McTurnan
. George McTurnan Kahin
. George McTurnan Kahin . 1952 . Nationalism and Revolution in Indonesia . Cornell University Press . Ithaca, New York . 978-0-8014-9108-5 .
- News: Kurniasari . Triwik . Reviving Usmar Ismail's legacy . The Jakarta Post . 24 June 2012 . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416183000/http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/06/24/reviving-usmar-ismail-s-legacy.html . 16 April 2014 . . dead.
- Web site: L. Heuveldorp Filmografi . L. Heuveldorp Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416182037/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b6fdbe4b425f_l-heuveldorp/filmography . 16 April 2014 . . dead.
- Web site: Lie Tek Swie Filmografi . Lie Tek Swie Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 28 August 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131215100210/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b8529e9e430e_lie-tek-swie/filmography . 15 December 2013 . . dead.
- Encyclopedia: Lily van Java . Indonesian . Encyclopedia of Jakarta . Jakarta City Government . Jakarta . 21 August 2012 . https://archive.today/20100708193318/http://www.jakarta.go.id/jakv1/encyclopedia/detail/1659 . 8 July 2010 . . dead.
- Web site: Mannus Franken . filmmuseum.nl . . Amsterdam . 20 October 2011 . 24 July 2012 . https://archive.today/20120723234924/http://www.filmmuseum.nl/en/person/mannus-franken . 23 July 2012 . . dead.
- Web site: MH Schilling Filmografi . MH Schilling Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416181553/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b9bad3a34741_mh-schilling/filmography . 16 April 2014 . . dead.
- Web site: Mohammad Said Hamid Junid Filmografi . Mohammad Said Hamid Junid Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416182042/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b9bad38a67ab_moh-said-hj/filmography . 16 April 2014 . . dead.
- Web site: Nelson Wong Filmografi . Nelson Wong Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140219085641/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b852621333d6_nelson-wong/filmography . 19 February 2014 . . dead.
- Web site: Njoo Cheong Seng Filmografi . Njoo Cheong Seng Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . National Library of Indonesia with Sinematek . Jakarta . . 3 September 2012 . 20 February 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150220144607/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b9bad37ea4e9_njoo-cheong-seng/filmography . dead.
- Web site: Othniel Wong Filmografi . Othniel Wong Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140219202649/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b99bd523f3ef_othniel-wong/filmography . 19 February 2014 . . dead.
- Web site: R Hu Filmografi . R Hu Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416181200/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b97d4e90acfb_r-hu/filmography . 16 April 2014 . . dead.
- Web site: Rd Ariffien Filmografi . Rd Ariffien Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140417011626/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b9bad38c19b5_rd-ariffien/filmography . 17 April 2014 . . dead.
- Web site: Roestam St Palindih Filmografi . Roestam St Palindih Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416180857/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b9badce8ba49_roestam-st-palindih/filmography . 16 April 2014 . . dead.
- Web site: Rustam St Palindih Filmografi . Rustam St Palindih Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 27 January 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140227143801/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b9bad3d03627_rustam-st-palindih/filmography . 27 February 2014 . . dead.
- Book: Said
, Salim
. Profil Dunia Film Indonesia . Profile of Indonesian Cinema . Indonesian . Grafiti Pers . Jakarta . 1982 . 9507803 .
- Web site: Suska Filmografi . Suska Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416180216/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b9bad3bc3bf9_suska/filmography . 16 April 2014 . . dead.
- In the Boys' Club: A Historical Perspective on the Roles of Women in the Indonesian Cinema 1926 – May 1998 . 103–111 . July 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416181308/http://puslit2.petra.ac.id/ejournal/index.php/iko/article/viewFile/18314/18162 . 16 April 2014 . Swestin . Grace . Scriptura . 2 . Surabaya . Petra Christian University . 3 . dead.
- Web site: Tan Tjoei Hock Filmografi . Tan Tjoei Hock Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029211528/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b99b0c50ac6d_tan-tjoei-hock/filmography . 29 October 2013 . . dead.
- Web site: The Teng Chun Filmografi . The Teng Chun Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416182513/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b8501c11b793_the-teng-chun/filmography . 16 April 2014 . . dead.
- Web site: Usmar Ismail Filmografi . Usmar Ismail Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416191846/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b9bad50b835d_usmar-ismail/filmography . 16 April 2014 . . dead.
- Web site: Wong Bersaudara Filmografi . Wong Brothers Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416175110/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nma4b8514ee58838_wong-bersaudara/filmography . 16 April 2014 . . dead.
- Web site: Wu Tsun Filmografi . Wu Tsun Filmography . Indonesian . filmindonesia.or.id . Konfiden Foundation . Jakarta . 23 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416174425/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b9bad385995a_wu-tsun/filmography . 16 April 2014 . . dead.