JAKARTA - The government has started to encourage new markets for Indonesian films in the Middle East. Minister of Culture Fadli Zon opened talks on film cooperation with Saudi Arabia while attending the Cannes Film Festival, Tuesday, May 13.
In a meeting with Abdullah Alayaf as the Film Commission and Red Sea Program Director of Saudi Arabia, Fadli highlighted the great opportunity for film industry cooperation between the two countries with the largest Muslim population and strong cultural influence in their respective regions.
"Film and storytelling can be a bridge to present a more diverse and humanistic narrative to the world," said Fadli Zon in Cannes, France in a written statement received Wednesday, May 14.
Fadli assessed that the relationship between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia no longer stopped at the formal diplomatic sector. The film industry is considered a new space to strengthen cultural influence as well as expand Indonesia's creative market at the global level.
He offered wider cooperation, ranging from talent exchange, co-production, film funding, strengthening festivals, to the development of the capacity of young filmmakers.
Saudi Arabia welcomed the move. Abdullah Alayaf expressed an interest in having more Indonesian films enter the Saudi Arabia cinema network. This statement is an important signal because the Middle East film market has begun to grow aggressively in recent years.
Fadli also encouraged direct relations between the Red Sea International Film Festival and Indonesian film platforms such as JAFF and Jakarta Film Week. According to Fadli, festival collaboration can open greater access for Asian and Middle Eastern filmmakers, including the development of short films and feature films.
In the midst of efforts to expand the global network, Fadli assessed that the Indonesian film industry is showing a strong trend. He said that two national films, Jumbo and Agak Laen 2, managed to penetrate more than 10 million domestic audiences in one year.
"Various Indonesian filmmakers also continue to receive recognition at international festivals. This shows that the Indonesian film ecosystem continues to grow," he said.
The Ministry of Culture, said Fadli, is also strengthening the national film ecosystem through talent development, increasing the capacity of regional filmmakers, to expanding film creativity centers in various regions.
"We want to build a long-term partnership that strengthens cultural diplomacy and expands Indonesian film collaboration with the global film community, including Saudi Arabia," said Fadli.
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