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
+ Film directors of the Dutch East IndiesNameFictional film debutDebut yearFilms directed before 1949Total films directedRef(s).
Andjar AsmaraKartinah194055
Harta Berdarah1940432
Pareh193522
Boen Kim NamMega Mendoeng194111
De Stem des Bloeds193033
Selendang Delima1941112
Njai Dasima193214
Pareh193522
Loetoeng Kasaroeng192611
Harta Berdarah194024
Harta Karun1949228
Jo An Djan Kedok Ketawa194056
Jo Eng SekPah Wongso Pendekar Boediman194033
Djatoeh Berkait194411
Eulis Atjih192733
Lie Tek SwieNjai Dasima192966
Kris Mataram194058
Elang Darat194135
Roestam Sutan PalindihDi Menara194333
Boenga Sembodja1942319
Sinjo Tjo Main di Film193122
Sutan Usman KarimPanggilan Darah194122
Tan Tjoei HockDasima194099
Boenga Roos dari Tjikembang19311617
Lari ke Arab19301012
Lily van Java192866
Lari ke Arab19301013
Wu TsunLintah Darat194144
Sehidup Semati1949223

Works cited

. . 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 .

. George McTurnan Kahin . 1952 . Nationalism and Revolution in Indonesia . Cornell University Press . Ithaca, New York . 978-0-8014-9108-5 .

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