Semarang, NU Online
Sang Kiai became the best film of Indonesian Film Festival 2013 held in Semarang, Central Java on Saturday night. The film succeeded to defeat four other nominators, 5 CM, Belenggu, Habibie & Ainun, also Laura & Marsha. <>

"Thank you very much for this award. Thanks to whole crews who have been fighting for this film" Producer of Sang Kiai, Gope T Samtani said in his speech as quoted by republika.co.id. 

This award puts Sang Kiai bringing the highest trophy at the event. This film also received other award for Best Director. 

Sang Kiai is directed by Rako Prijanto. The film has been selected as Indonesian film for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards. 

This film based on true story of KH Hasyim Asy'ari, the founder and spiritual leader of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the biggest Muslim organization in the country. 

There are 53 films competing on FFI, also 80 short documentaries, 21 feature length documentaries, 119 short films, 75 television movies and 93 short animated films.

Formerly, Rector of the Semarang's University of Wahid Hasyim (Unwahas) Dr. Noor Ahmad greatly appreciated the story in the "Sang Kiai" film for being fully littered with the mesages of struggle in addition to showing heroism in the name of nationality.

"This film (Sang Kiai, ed.) shows one of the pillars marking the establishment of the Indonesian nation due to roles played by a Muslim scholar," he said recently.

According to Noor, the value of spirit and struggle of KH. Hasyim Asy `ari, the founder of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) being a central figure in the film must be a good example from all Indonesian people.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq