Julio Rionaldo
Julio Rionaldo at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival
Born
Alma mater
Occupations
Years active2016–present
Websiteparcstar.space[1]

Julio Rionaldo is an Indonesian writer, screenwriter, director, producer, and actor. Known for his distinctive style of magical realism and neorealism in which he dubbed “magical neorealism.” Julio's work captivates audiences by blending the extraordinary with the mundane. His films often explore themes of identity, death, memory, and the passage of time, offering viewers a cathartic and thought-provoking cinematic experience.[2]

Personal life

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Julio Rionaldo was born in Banjarmasin, Indonesia and raised in Anaheim, California, where he developed a deep appreciation for storytelling from a young age. Growing up on the fringes of Hollywood, he was exposed to a variety of narratives and artistic expressions, which greatly influenced his creative development and desire for cinema.[3] A gifted storyteller from an early age, his high school years in the United States led him to embark on the Sundance Institute Screenwriters Lab in 2014, where he encountered Sean Baker and Benh Zeitlin, who played significant roles in shaping his filmmaking aspirations.[4]

Julio returned to his homeland to pursue a degree in Law at Universitas Padjadjaran, graduating at the top of his class. This achievement earned him a stint as an associate at Deloitte.[5] However, his passion for filmmaking persisted. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Julio and his close friends founded Parcstar Assembly Inc., an independent motion picture enterprise basedin Newark, Delaware and Jakarta, Indonesia.[6] He has since served as its executive director, producer, writer, and actor, steering the company towards innovation and global recognition.[7]

Career

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In 2021, under Parcstar Assembly Inc., Julio established his own bootstrap international film festival named Kinosuite International, located in the vibrant district of Blok M, South Jakarta.[8] This festival aims to showcase independent films from around the world, providing a platform for emerging filmmakers to share their work and connect with a global audience.[9]

Julio resides in Ubud, Bali, with his Norwegian partner. The serene environment of Ubud provides the perfect backdrop for Julio as he writes his next feature screenplay, continuing to explore new narratives and push the boundaries of his craft.[10]

Theme, Style, and Influence

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The hallmarks of Julio Rionaldo's films is his distinct visual style, which reflects his belief that each individual perceives the world uniquely, influenced by their personal circumstances and upbringing, that invite viewers to engage in a deeply personal journey of interpretation and reflection.[11] Julio's approach is grounded in the belief that each person brings their own unique perspective to a film, shaped by their individual circumstances and life experiences.[12]

Julio Rionaldo's films are characterized by their open-ended nature, deliberately crafted to provoke thought and spark conversations. He eschews clear-cut resolutions, opting instead for ambiguous endings that leave room for multiple interpretations. This approach reflects his belief in the uniqueness of individual perception.[13]

"As a storyteller, my goal is to provoke thought and spark conversations. I don’t want to provide all the answers; instead, I aim to pose questions and invite viewers to reflect on their own lives. If a hundred people watch my movie, I expect a hundred different interpretations to arise after the credits roll. This diversity of thought is what makes cinema so powerful." - Julio Rionaldo[14]

Julio's philosophy is rooted in the notion that every viewer's interpretation is valid and meaningful. By leaving narrative elements unresolved, he creates a space where audiences can project their own experiences, thoughts, and emotions onto the story. This engagement transforms passive viewing into an active, participatory experience. A signature technique in Julio's films is his use of long takes and challenging set pieces, designed to push actors to their limits and capture raw, unfiltered emotions.[15]

Julio Rionaldo's narratives often explore recurring themes of identity, memory, death and the passage of time, drawing audiences into a world where the ordinary becomes extraordinary.[16] His style is heavily influenced by the works of Andrei Tarkovsky, Terrence Malick, Spike Jonze, Guillermo del Toro and his mentor Benh Zeitlin. His visual style blends fantastical elements with everyday life to create rich, immersive, and visually captivating narratives. His films often feature dreamlike sequences and surreal imagery, blurring the lines between reality and imagination.[17]

"I believe that stories are not linear; they are shaped by our experiences, memories, and emotions. By playing with narrative structures, I aim to create films that resonate on a deeper, more intuitive level. It’s about inviting the audience to piece together the story in a way that feels personal and impactful to them." - Julio Rionaldo[18]

Methodology

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Julio Rionaldo's directorial approach is deeply rooted in his commitment to building profound, personal relationships with his cast members by engaging in activities that help build mutual trust and understanding. He views the film set as a sanctuary, a place where creativity can flourish through a delicate ballet of guidance and interpretation. By understanding and catering to each personnel's strengths and weaknesses, Julio creates a supportive environment where they can fully immerse themselves in their roles.[19]

Filmography

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Feature Films

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Year Title Director Writer Actor Ref
2024 Bestiary Yes Yes Yes
2025 A Figment of Your Imagination Yes Yes Yes
2026 Stride Yes Yes Yes [20]

Short Films

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Year Title Director Producer Writer Actor Ref
2016 Dusk & Demitasse Yes No Yes No [21]
2017 A Faerie's Wanderlust Yes No Yes No
2021 My Dear Spectre No Yes Yes No [22]
Philosophy of Death Yes No Yes Yes
2022 Engineering Eternity No Yes Yes Yes
The Hanged Man Yes No Yes No
2023 Scarlet Yes No Yes No
Infidelis Yes Yes Yes Yes
Hallowed Be Thy Nightmares Yes No Yes No [23]
2024 The Afterlife Club Yes No Yes No
Sweet Lightspeed Yes No Yes Yes
King of Swords Yes No Yes Yes
Vesper Yes No Yes Yes
The Secret Life of Daydreams Co-director No Yes Yes
TBA Escort Yes No Yes No

All films and series are produced by Parcstar Assembly Inc.

Bibliography

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Novels

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Year Title Genre Publisher Ref
2024 The Silence Between Singularities Science fiction Amazon Kindle [24]
2025 The Valhalla Diaries Adventure, Romance Unreleased [25]
2026 Halcyon Metanoia Coming-of-age story, Young adult literature Unreleased [26]

References

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  1. ^ "Parcstar Assembly Inc". FilmFreeway.
  2. ^ "People - Julio Rionaldo". Parcstar Assembly. July 4, 2024.
  3. ^ Salinas, Samara (July 12, 2024). "Secret Cinemas, Internet Gatherings, and International Film Festivals: How a Full-fledged Independent Cinema Ecosystem is Built Through Discord". Rakyat Sipil.
  4. ^ "Cineaste - Julio Rionaldo". Kinosuite International. June 30, 2024.
  5. ^ "LinkedIn - Julio Rionaldo". linkedin.com.
  6. ^ "About". parcstar.space.
  7. ^ "The Discreet Charm of Jakarta's Underground Independent Cinema". medium.com. 21 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Menikmati suasana bioskop rahasia di Kinosuite Secret Cinema" (in Indonesian). InToday Media. February 15, 2024.
  9. ^ "Kinosuite International: A Launchpad for Emerging Filmmakers" (in Indonesian). LinkedIn Pulse. June 21, 2024.
  10. ^ Olivia, Maya (June 23, 2024). "Magical Neorealism: Inside the World of Julio Rionaldo from Hollywood to Borneo". kopinspirasi.com.
  11. ^ "Relfeksi Sanubari Masyarakat: Dampak Sosial Sinema Independen" (in Indonesian). Radar Berita. June 23, 2024.
  12. ^ "Realitas, Fiksi, Metafiksi dan Julio Rionaldo" (in Indonesian). Warta Times. August 30, 2024.
  13. ^ Artha, Agnila (June 26, 2024). "Film Sebagai Katalisator Transformasi Masyarakat" (in Indonesian). Kompasiana.
  14. ^ Aditya, Dandy C. (June 30, 2024). "Why Independent Films Matter?".
  15. ^ "Life On Set with Parcstar Assembly Inc". LinkedIn. June 21, 2024.
  16. ^ People - Julio Rionaldo
  17. ^ "Cineaste - Julio Rionaldo". Kinosuite International. June 30, 2024.
  18. ^ "Exploring Thought-provoking Themes in Cinema: A Critical Analysis of Parcstar Assembly Inc.'s Narrative". LinkedIn. June 21, 2024.
  19. ^ "Sinema Kolaborasi: Inovasi Kontemporer Sineas Independen Nusantara" (in Indonesian). Radar Baru. July 12, 2024.
  20. ^ "Stride". mubi.com.
  21. ^ "Dusk & Demitasse". mubi.com.
  22. ^ "My Dear Spectre". artemis.cs.csub.edu.
  23. ^ "Hallowed Be Thy Nightmares". letterboxd.com.
  24. ^ "The Silence Between Singularities". amazon.com.
  25. ^ Realitas, Fiksi, Metafiksi dan Julio Rionaldo
  26. ^ Realitas, Fiksi, Metafiksi dan Julio Rionaldo
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Category:Indonesian film directors Category:Indonesian screenwriters Category:Indonesian film producers Category:Indonesian writers Category:Living people Category:Indonesian male film actors Category:Indo people