Misbach Yusa Biran

Misbach Yusa Biran (11 September 1933 – 11 April 2012) was an Indonesian writer, director and columnist who pioneered the Indonesian film archives.

Biran was born in Rangkasbitung, in the Lebak Regency, to a Minangkabau father and a Bantenese mother. In 1969, he married actress Nani Widjaja. They had six children, two of whom (Cahya Kamila and Sukma Ayu) also went into the film industry.

Biran graduated from Taman Madya Bagian B, in Jakarta. He first began directing plays in the early 1950s, whilst at school, whilst he additionally wrote film reviews and produced literature works. However, after his graduation, he chose a career in film.

From 1954-1956, Biran worked for the Indonesian National Film Company (PERFINI) under Usmar Ismail. He began as a script recorder, and later became Assistant Director and member of the Writers’ Board. He rose to the position of Director of National Film Centre H. Usmar Ismail Jakarta, member of the National Film Council, and Chairman of the Film and Television Employees from 1987-1991.

In 1955, Biran wrote his first screenplay from a short story by Sjumandjaja, titled Kerontjong Kemajoran, which was later turned into a film titled Saodah by Persari Film.

From 1957 to 1960, he directed short films and documentaries. In 1967, Biran won the Citra Award for Best Director for his film Dibalik Tjahaja Gemerlapan. He also received an award for Best Script for his film Menjusuri Djedjak Berdarah, and for Ayahku (1987), directed by Agus Elias.

Biran ceased directing films in 1971, as a way to show his distaste for the film industry which was, at the time, flourishing with pornographic films.

What is considered his most important contribution to the national film industry was in establishing Sinematek Indonesia in 1975. It was an institution that independently archived the national films. Biran led Sinematek Indonesia until 2001, and became synonymous with the institution.

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