JAKARTA - The 2026 Indonesian Film Festival (FFI) officially begins. The Ministry of Culture together with the Indonesian Film Agency (BPI) and the FFI Committee opened the registration of film works and film criticism from June 18 to August 31, 2026, accompanied by a number of changes to the judging rules that have the potential to expand opportunities for filmmakers.
The launch of FFI 2026 was held at Hutan Kota by Plataran, Jakarta, Thursday (18/6). The Citra Cup Award night is scheduled to take place on November 20, 2026.
One of the changes that is of concern is the adjustment of the minimum duration of the Short Documentary Film category to 10 minutes. The FFI Committee assessed that this step could open up a wider space for documentary filmmakers to participate.
Head of the Judging Section of FFI 2026 Budi Irawanto said a number of regulatory updates were carried out after receiving public input and discussing with various film stakeholders.
In addition to the documentary category, FFI also simplified the judging stages of feature films and made adjustments to the Best Original Theme Song Creator category.
FFI 2026 carries the theme "Askala Karya Sinema Indonesia". Askala comes from Sanskrit which means light, light, and hope. This theme was chosen to emphasize the role of film as a medium that records the journey of the nation while bringing inspiration to the next generation.
Minister of Culture Fadli Zon said the development of Indonesian film showed a positive trend. According to Fadli, the increasing public interest in national films is a signal that the works of Indonesian filmmakers are increasingly accepted in the domestic market.
"Film is not only entertainment, but also a cultural medium that records the journey of a nation, reflects the past and present, and opens the imagination about the future," said Fadli.
The government will continue to encourage the strengthening of the national film ecosystem, including expanding the participation of Indonesian filmmakers in international festivals and increasing public access to Indonesian films.
In addition to regulatory changes, FFI 2026 also presents new programs. One of them is the FFI Masterclass, which provides learning materials from film practitioners through a digital platform.
The FFI Committee also launched Nomination Week, a program to screen nominated films that will be held in Jakarta and a number of regions through cooperation with various local film festivals.
BPI Chairman Fauzan Zidni said FFI is not only an award event, but also a reflection of the development of the national film industry.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the FFI Committee, Ario Bayu, emphasized that FFI will continue to be a space for appreciation and promotion that encourages the sustainable growth of Indonesian films.
During the launch, Nirina Zubir and Morgan Oey were also introduced as FFI 2026 Ambassadors. Both are expected to help expand public involvement in all the festival's activities.
The selection and judging of FFI 2026 will take place starting September 1. The culmination is the Citra Cup Award Night which is scheduled to be held on November 20, 2026.
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