Minister of Culture encourages PFN to change role, no longer film producers

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon receives PFN President Director Riefian Fajarsyah in Jakarta, Wednesday, April 1. (IST)

JAKARTA - The government has begun to shift the direction of PT Produksi Film Negara (PFN). No longer just a production house, but encouraged to become a driver of the national film ecosystem. The direction emerged in a meeting between Culture Minister Fadli Zon and PFN President Director Riefian Fajarsyah in Jakarta, Wednesday, April 1.

This meeting marked an effort to streamline the role of the state in the film industry. The government wants policies, funding, and facilitation to go in one direction with the transformation of PFN.

Fadli Zon emphasized that the country has prepared support instruments, ranging from National Talent Management, financing, to access to international festivals. The goal is that Indonesian films not only grow within the country, but also appear in the global market.

"We want to synergize what we do with PFN so that the national film ecosystem is stronger," said Fadli.

On the other hand, PFN admitted that it needed to get out of its old role. Riefian emphasized that SOEs no longer wanted to compete with private production houses.

"We want to place PFN not as a competitor, but as a facilitator for Indonesian film makers," he said.

Concrete steps are being prepared. The PFN area in Otista will be turned into a movie creative hub. Facilities include training, crew certification, production studios, post-production, to filmmakers' workspaces. PFN also opens collaboration with the government to build a new cultural pocket.

However, the agenda is not only about production. The government also highlights the old problem, namely scattered and damaged film archives. Fadli emphasized the importance of data collection, digitization, and film restoration, including plans to build a national film museum.

Director General of Development, Utilization, and Cultural Development, Ahmad Mahendra, said the process would be carried out gradually. Priorities are determined from the condition of the archive and the level of urgency, given the large resource needs.

This collaboration is a signal of change. The state is no longer merely present as a regulator, but has begun to rearrange its role so that the film industry moves healthier - without shutting down existing actors.