JAKARTA - The Indonesian film industry is getting a fresh breeze. The Ministry of Culture has reaffirmed its commitment to fully support the Bali International Film Festival (Balinale) as a strategic platform in bringing the works of the nation to the international arena.
This step follows the success of the 19th edition and welcomes the preparations for the special 20th edition which is scheduled to take place on June 1-7, 2027.
The support was discussed in a meeting between the Director General of Development, Utilization, and Culture Development (PPPK), Ahmad Mahendra, together with the Director of Film, Music, and Art, Irini Dewi Wanti, with the Balinale committee.
Present at the meeting were senior actors and Balinale Senior Festival Advisor, Donny Damara, Founder of the Deborah Gabinetti Festival, as well as the festival's communication team. This meeting not only reviewed the achievements of 2026, but also expanded the vision of Balinale as a sustainable creative ecosystem.
One of the main highlights of the meeting was the awarding of the first "Tapestry of Indonesia" category. This category is dedicated to documentary and narrative short films that are able to capture the depth of Indonesian traditions, communities, and cultural diversity.
The film titled Amazing Fantastic Extraordinary People by director Nadina Habsjah and Yusgunawan Marto managed to become the first recipient of this award.
"The 'Tapestry of Indonesia' award represents Balinale's appreciation for young filmmakers who weave stories, diversity, and Indonesian identity to introduce to the world. These unique works must be able to touch the hearts of the audience, so that Indonesia is not only seen, but also really felt," said Ahmad Mahendra in his statement quoted by VOI, Monday, July 27.
For local filmmakers, Balinale is not just an ordinary festival. Since 2024, Balinale holds the status of an Academy Award® qualified festival for the Best Short Film category. This makes Balinale the only festival in Indonesia that has an "access path" for short filmmakers in the country to be able to compete on the Oscar stage.
Ahmad Mahendra emphasized that this status is a golden opportunity that must be utilized.
"Balinale has evolved beyond an annual festival into a platform that nurtures new talents through international exposure and the opportunity to compete on the world stage," he added.
As a global destination, Sanur, Bali, will once again host the 20th historic edition in 2027. In the previous edition in 2026, Balinale recorded a brilliant achievement by receiving more than 1,300 films from around the world.
A total of 94 films from 38 countries have been selected, including 23 films by Indonesian filmmakers. The festival also witnessed 20 world premieres (world premiere) which strengthened Bali's position as a meeting point for global filmmakers.
"Balinale was founded to create meaningful opportunities for Indonesian filmmakers by bringing the international community here, while bringing our stories to the world," said Deborah Gabinetti, Founder and Director of the Festival.
For filmmakers who want to show off, the registration of films for the 20th edition of Balinale will officially open on October 1, 2026. Prepare your best work to steal the world's attention!
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