Dr. Ekky Imanjaya: Celebrating Indonesia’s “Guilty Pleasures” in Film

Dr. Ekky Imanjaya interviewed online through Zoom meeting by Technology Transfer’s representative.

Indonesian cinema has many stories to tell, and Dr. Ekky Imanjaya has dedicated his career to uncovering some of its most surprising chapters. A faculty member at BINUS University’s Film Department, Dr. Ekky is not only a lecturer but also a film critic, author, and cultural advocate.

One of his most talked-about works is The Real Guilty Pleasures (2022), a book that explores Indonesia’s exploitation films of the 1970s–1990s—low-budget horror and action movies once dismissed as “trash.” While critics and cultural elites ignored them, these films won over audiences and even gained fans abroad. “It’s fascinating,” Dr. Ekky says, “that the films seen as lowbrow at home were the ones circulating internationally.”

One of Dr. Ekky Imanjaya’s recent books, The Real Guilty Pleasures: Menimbangulang Sinema Eksploitasi Transnasional Orde Baru (2022).

For him, these films reveal more than entertainment—they reflect the politics of taste in Indonesia. They show how audience demand, state censorship, and cultural perceptions clashed, shaping what kinds of movies were made and remembered. Today, thanks to global cult film communities, many of these forgotten titles are being rediscovered, with Dr. Ekky often invited to provide expert commentary.

Beyond his research, Dr. Ekky also contributes to film policy as a member of the Jakarta Arts Council’s Film Committee. His work includes developing ideas for a Jakarta Film Commission, supporting film criticism, and fostering film appreciation through platforms like Kineforum.

He also keeps a close eye on today’s horror boom, led by filmmakers like Joko Anwar. Indonesia’s horror, he notes, draws strength from rich folklore and spiritual traditions—stories that are uniquely local yet told with a global cinematic language. Looking ahead, he sees great potential in exploring horror tales from beyond Java, opening space for stories from Papua, Sulawesi, and beyond.

When asked what advice he would give young filmmakers, Dr. Ekky keeps it simple: piknik. Not a holiday, but a call to go out, watch films, join communities, and stay humble. “Festivals and discussions show us where we stand and where we can go,” he says.

From writing books and academic papers to supporting festivals and mentoring students, Dr. Ekky embodies the spirit of a public intellectual. His passion ensures that Indonesia’s cinema—whether celebrated classics or so-called “guilty pleasures”—continues to be studied, appreciated, and shared with the world.