Indonesian Film Unjuk Gigi At Cannes 2025

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon supports Indonesian films to the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. (IST)

The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia officially presents the Indonesian Pavilion in Marché du Film, the world's largest film market which is part of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. This step is not only symbolic, but is a concrete strategy to open market access, expand international networks, and encourage Indonesian films to enter the global industrial radar.

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon stated this in the Cannes Media Taklimat which was held at CGV FX Sudirman, Jakarta, Monday 6 May. We don't just come. We come with works, networks, and determination. This is a momentum so that Indonesian films are no longer underestimated," he said.

Fadli called last year's achievement as proof of a revival. Indonesian movie viewers reached 81 million. That's twice the audience of foreign films. That means, we have won at home. Now is the time to step into the world," he said.

Featured Films And Collaborative Missions

A number of superior works in the country were brought to Cannes. One of them is the Blood Association, produced by Uwais Pictures owned by Iko Uwais. This film raises silat and local stories, as well as becomes a weapon of Indonesian cultural diplomacy in the international realm.

Jumbo animation, which penetrated 8 million viewers and became the third best-selling Indonesian animated film of all time, was also brought to explore global distribution.

Three intellectual properties of Indonesian comics Bandits of Batavia, Locust, and Jitu participated in the Spotlight Asia program after passing the JAFF Market curation. The three of them are ready to be converted to the big screen and prepared for the world market.

Actor Reza Rahadian brought his long film debut as a director entitled Pangku. "I really feel the support of the state this time. The government is here for film people," he said at the launch.

Cinema Awakening: From Christine Hakim To The New Generation

The latest film from Palari Films, Sleep No More, by Edwin, starring Iqbaal Ramadhan, Rachel Amanda, Lutesha, and Sal Priadi, was also marketed in Cannes. The co-production between Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and Germany collaborates with ShowBox as a sales agent for parties who also oversees the Korean film Exhuma.

Christine Hakim returned to Cannes not as an actress, but as a producer of the film The Mourning Journey by Garin Nugroho. This film stars Reza Rahadian and is looking for distribution partners.

Producer Razka Robby Ertanto was selected to participate in the Producers Network program, bringing a film project about Rose Pandanwangi, the legendary serisosa singer and wife of the painter S. Sudjojono. Razka previously succeeded with Ave Maryam and Midnight in Bali.

Meanwhile, Producer Yulia Evina Bhara also returned to Cannes, this time as a judge at the Semaine de La Critique with Daniel Kaluuya and Rodrigo Sorogoyen. In addition, the film he produced ' Renoir by Japanese director Chie Hayakawa entered the main competition for Cannes 2025. This film is a co-production of Japan, Indonesia, France, the Philippines, and Singapore.

"Our presence in Cannes is not a pleasant thing. This is a real step to advance Indonesia's national culture, as mandated by Article 32 of the 1945 Constitution. Sinema is a soft force. And Indonesia is already a force that is taken into account by the world," said Menbud FadliZon.