JAFF Organizers on Building Indonesia’s First Film Market: ‘An Appetite for Connection, Collaboration and New Talents’

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.

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.

Lilly Wachowski, co-director of the iconic 1999 film 'The Matrix,' addressed recent right-wing interpretations of her work during an appearance on the 'So True with Caleb Hearon' podcast. She expressed that she remains unfazed by these misinterpretations and emphasized the importance of separating oneself from their creations after release.

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.

Indonesian filmmaker Adriyanto Dewo's psychological horror project 'Evil Underground' has been selected for the JAFF Future Project, focusing on the story of estranged sisters trapped in a mall basement. The film is produced by Perlita Desiani and Tina Arwin through Relate Films and is one of ten Asia-Pacific titles chosen for this initiative.

Oliver Laxe, the director of the film 'Sirat', has expressed a strong interest in exploring the Amazon rainforest for his next project. He highlighted the significance of the region's ceremonies, rituals, and medicinal practices as key elements he wishes to delve into, as reported by Variety.