JAFF Market 2025 Opens With Indonesian Cultural Leaders Framing National Film Ecosystem and International Visibility

Indonesia's cinema market is facing significant volatility in 2025, with fluctuating box office numbers despite notable successes, as discussed by industry leaders at the JAFF Market panel. Filmmaker Angga Dwimas Sasongko highlighted the challenges and opportunities for sustainable growth in the industry.

Indonesia’s Mandela Pictures and Desert Bloom Pictures from Korea have announced a partnership to develop four films, revealed at the JAFF Market in Yogyakarta. This collaboration aims to connect the Indonesian, Korean, and Hollywood film markets, leveraging Desert Bloom's success in Korean cinema alongside Mandela's regional expertise.

The Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF) is collaborating with the Asian Film Awards Academy for the second year to present a showcase of Hong Kong cinema in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from November 30 to December 4. This year's program, titled 'Together We Dare to Direct,' will feature a masterclass with renowned director Ann Hui and highlight works from various generations of filmmakers.

Magma Entertainment and Bumilangit Entertainment have unveiled a new feature film titled 'Si Buta dari Gua Hantu: Mata Malaikat' (The Blind Warrior From the Phantom Cave: Angel Eyes), based on the iconic Indonesian martial arts comic character. This adaptation highlights the character's enduring popularity, with a history of nine films and 86 TV episodes to date.

Indonesian filmmaker Angga Dwimas Sasongko unveiled the cast of his new action-fantasy feature 'Queen of Malacca' at the JAFF Market 2025, providing insights into the project's creative journey and world-building. This marks the first major public reveal since its initial announcement at the Cannes Film Market.

Kanya Iwana, an Indonesian multidisciplinary artist, has made her feature directorial debut with 'Ibu,' selected for the JAFF Future Project. The film explores generational trauma among three women in Yogyakarta, reflecting on inherited identity and cultural legacies in Indonesia. This co-production with the U.S. is part of a curated selection of ten titles at the festival.

Southeast Asian film industry veterans Leonard Lai from Singapore and Hang Trinh from Vietnam have launched a $3 million investment venture named Triple Green CineCapital (TGC) at the JAFF Market, coinciding with the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival. The initiative aims to finance and produce commercially-driven films tailored for the rapidly expanding Southeast Asian market.

Triple Green CineCapital has launched a new film investment venture at the JAFF Market in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, aiming to raise $3 million by 2029 to finance commercial features for Southeast Asian audiences. The venture is spearheaded by producer Leonard Lai from Singapore and Vietnam's Hang Trinh.