KUCHING, 3 DECEMBER 2021 – “Rio the Survivor” is an Indonesian film based on a true story of an 11-year-old child named Rio Sudiro who has been living with HIV since birth and both of his parents have died of AIDS. Rio’s father passed away while he was still in his mother’s womb and his mother too, passed away not long after. His grandmother took care of him after the passing of both his parents and they live by selling fried food in front of the house and also have other stalls in the neighbourhood reselling their fried food. As HIV positive, Rio grew up fighting for access to education and his right to live.
Rio the Survivor has been nominated for Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), South Africa and was also crowned as the best film at Best Istanbul Film Festival 2020. This film has garnered 24 award nominations from various international film festivals in several countries with 19 awards won and listed in 5 nominations, two of which are still ongoing in Spain and South Africa. Not only was this film nominated for DIFF, Rio The Survivor was also premiered in South Africa in a special screening for the South African region that took place from July 23 to August 1, 2021.
Starring Raditya Evandra as Rio Sudiro, Sri Widayati as Nenek, Akinza Kiyosaki as Andi, Abdqori Afandi as Tono and Brydden Escobar as Rendi, this film showcases discrimination against Rio as a child living with HIV who faces discrimination and conflicts in the environment around where he lives after he is found to be HIV positive that he had to drop out of school due to that. In spite of all this, this film also gives light to the strong bond in a friendship among Rio, Andi, Tono and Rendi that is rarely seen today in real life.
“We are very proud and honoured because the Durban International Film Festival is one of the most prestigious film festivals. This shows that Rio the Survivor has a place in international cinema because many international film festivals in various countries give appreciation and awards to this film,” said Yudie Oktav, producer and director of Rio The Survivor.
Raditya Evandra who plays the character Rio Sudiro, expressed, “Thank you to everyone especially to Yudie Oktav who has guided and trusted me in bringing the character Rio to life in Rio the Survivor. The story is very meaningful and everyone should watch this film, especially children,”.
Be sure to watch Rio the Survivor on 4th of December 2021, Saturday at 9.30pm at TVS, Channel 122 Astro and MYTV.
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