12 Facts About Albert Balink

Albert Balink was a Dutch journalist and filmmaker who contributed to early Indonesian cinema.

Albert Balink wrote extensively about film while working at these papers.

In 1934, Balink established the Java Pacific Film production company with the Wong brothers, headquartered in an old Bandoeng tapioca flour factory.

Inexperienced with film, Albert Balink had attained only theoretical knowledge gained from self-instruction.

Albert Balink had brought Franken to the country to ensure the film's quality.

Ultimately the film was a flop and bankrupted the company, including Albert Balink, having cost 75,000 gulden to produce.

Albert Balink established renewed financial backing to found the Dutch Indies Film Syndicate, which produced its first newsreel on 22 December 1936, featuring the Gambir Market, and festivities at the palace of the Governor-General, including the inauguration of the last Dutch East Indies Governor-General, Tjarda van Starkenborgh Stachouwer.

In 1937, Albert Balink directed Terang Boelan, described as the first full-length Indonesian film in Malay.

Albert Balink left the country for the United States, attempting a career as a Hollywood director, which was unsuccessful.

In March 1938 Albert Balink immigrated to the United States, became a citizen, and worked as a correspondent for Dutch daily newspaper, de Volkskrant.

Also in the 1950s, Albert Balink chaired the committee for the William the Silent Award for Journalism.

Albert Balink died in Pensacola, Florida, on 8 February 1976.