Responding To Jakarta's Preparedness To Meet Sinema City Indicators
JAKARTA - The Provincial Government of Jakarta together with Tempo Media Group started a series of Focus Group Discussions (FGD) entitled Jakarta Kota Sinema to formulate main indicators and sizes to realize Jakarta, Kota Sinema. This discussion is a strategic step to prepare Jakarta to be included in the world's creative city network, especially the Film category, under the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).
The FGD series lasted for six days, from December 1, 2025, December 5, 2025, and December 8, 2025 at AONE Hotel in Central Jakarta. In total there are nine discussion groups involving various stakeholders such as elements of government, filmmakers, communities, academics, and business actors.
Tempo Media Group President Director Arif Zulkifli said, the entire series of discussions emphasized the importance of a comprehensive cinema city concept, not just the ease of shooting permits. This idea was triggered since February 2025 when Tempo organized the Tempo Film Festival with the support of the Jakarta Provincial Government. About two weeks before Pramono Anung and Rano Karno were officially appointed governor and deputy governor.
"Since we first mentioned the idea of a cinema city, Bang Doel immediately captured his urgency," said Arif. The experience of shooting the School Children's Doel in the Netherlands is much easier and cheaper than in Jakarta. This means that there are basic problems that must be addressed, from licensing to security in the field.
Even so, Arif continued, the city of cinema is not just an efficient shooting affair. An integrated film ecosystem is needed. Starting from education, production space, space for appreciation, funding, technology, to the readiness of the supporting industry.
"The point is to unite all capabilities and resources in order to create a healthy ecosystem and encourage all perpetrators," he said.
Head of the Jakarta Province Tourism and Creative Service, Andhika Permata, represented by the Head of the Creative Economy Division of DKI Jakarta Disparekraf, Puji Hastuti, added that the Provincial Government has tried to strengthen the film ecosystem. One of the steps that is currently being formulated is the Jakarta Film Commission, the preparation of the Filming in Jakarta platform, to the fiscal incentive mechanism for filmmakers.
All these efforts are not enough, there are still many challenges that must be answered in order to produce comprehensive policies. The Jakarta Provincial Government wants to conduct a study to get an overview based on the data and opinions of experts and industry players Is Jakarta worth developing into a cinema city? What Jakarta already has to meet the requirements to become a cinema city? And what things still need to be developed? " Puji said.
Therefore, this FGD aims to explore data, opinions of experts, actors and other stakeholders as well as the film industry to answer big questions.
"Is Jakarta worth developing into a Cinema city?" said Puji.
In the FGD on the first day for the topic 'Concept and Indicator of Jakarta, Kota Sinema' presented three speakers, namely film critic Eric Sasono, initiator of the Jakarta Cinema Club Christian Putra, and Indonesian Cinematographer Society President Agni Ariatama.
According to Agni, Jakarta actually has strong capital as a cinema city. However, integrated and participatory policies are needed, it must also expand international cooperation according to UNESCO-WIPO standards," he said. So that film can be part of city DNA and the identity of Jakarta culture. The strong capital is seen in 141 production houses located in Jakarta, or 80 percent of the national quantity.
Meanwhile, Eric highlighted several things, including the Provincial Government needs to provide financial support such as tax incentives, as well as non-profit grants. Another challenge is the limited turnover in Jakarta.
Eric, Agni, and Christian agreed with two recommendations. First, regarding the status of UCCN's Sinema City', currently there is still a need to confirm whether a city can get two identities, considering that Jakarta already holds the title of City of Literature.
Second, they emphasized that Jakarta still needs Jakarta Film Commission to overcome the various challenges that are still happening. "The easiest example is that film actors are still difficult to shoot because of many things, ranging from complicated permits to various disturbances that occur," said Agni.