Jakarta Film Week 2026 Presents ENCOUNTERS Between Film, Audiences, and Indonesian and International Industry Professionals, While Hosting Indonesian Film Premieres

The sixth edition of the festival takes place October 21–25, 2026, expanding film literacy and creating new collaboration opportunities for cross-generational film projects.

Jakarta, September 23, 2026 — Jakarta Film Week officially announced its sixth edition of programming at a press conference held at CGV Grand Indonesia, Jakarta. The festival will take place from October 21–25, 2026. The press conference was attended by Jakarta Deputy Governor Rano Karno, S.IP.; Head of the Jakarta Tourism and Creative Economy Agency Andika Permata; Director General of Cultural Development, Utilization, and Promotion at the Ministry of Culture Ahmad Mahendra; Special Staff Member Diky Soemarno; Festival Director Rina Damayanti; Head of Industry Gayatri Nadya; Program Manager Novi Hanabi; and Festival Ambassador Ali Fikry.

This year, Jakarta Film Week further strengthens its position as an evolving space for Jakarta’s film ecosystem. In line with the vision of Jakarta as a Cinema City, the festival presents more programs and collaborations that broaden perspectives while opening new opportunities for cooperation, particularly for young Indonesian audiences and filmmakers looking to develop their projects.

ENCOUNTERS: Where Filmmakers, Films, and Audiences Meet

Entering its sixth year, Jakarta Film Week adopts the theme ENCOUNTERS, continuing its journey from the 2025 theme, REIGNITE. This shift marks a meeting point between filmmakers, films, and audiences, while creating opportunities for emerging filmmakers to connect with the Indonesian and international film industries.

As part of its efforts to reach younger audiences, Jakarta Film Week has appointed Ali Fikry, a young Indonesian actor whose work has been attracting considerable attention, as its Festival Ambassador. This initiative aligns with the festival’s commitment to delivering more interactive and immersive experiences for audiences across generations.

“The Jakarta Provincial Government sees Jakarta Film Week as a strategic partner in realizing Jakarta as a cinema city. Through collaboration with the Jakarta Film Summit and Jakarta Film Commission, we hope to further open the capital’s film ecosystem to industry professionals and the wider public,” said Jakarta Deputy Governor Rano Karno, S.IP.

Before the main festival takes place in October, Jakarta Film Week has already engaged the public through the JFW360 program, including Cerdas Cermat at Gramedia Jalma Melawai and Kopikina Kemang, short film screenings at JITEX, and the release of 24 short films available to watch for free on Vidio from September 20 to October 20, 2026. JFW360 has also partnered with the Embassy of Peru and the Jakarta Film Commission as collaborators.

“Six years of Jakarta Film Week have taught us that this festival is not just about screening films, but also about bringing together the people behind them, discovering new talent, and strengthening Indonesia’s film ecosystem. ENCOUNTERS is a reflection of that meeting point,” said Rina Damayanti, Festival Director of Jakarta Film Week 2026.

Film Program: Opening with Ah Girl from Singapore and Closing with The Sea Speaks His Name

As its Opening Film, Jakarta Film Week 2026 will present Ah Girl (2026), directed by Ang Geck Geck from Singapore, opening the screening program with a personal and heartfelt story. The festival will close with the Indonesian premiere of The Sea Speaks His Name (2026), directed by Yosep Anggi Noen, as its Closing Film.

The festival will also feature international titles that have already attracted attention at film festivals around the world. The Global Feature Competition will present La Grazia (2025) by Paolo Sorrentino, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (2026) by Jane Schoenbrun, Rose (2026) by Markus Schleinzer, Burn (2026) by Makoto Nagahisa, Filipiñana (2026) by Rafael Manuel, and Chronicles from the Siege (2026) by Abdallah Al-Khatib. The Currents program will feature Couture (2025) by Alice Winocour and Rosebush Pruning (2026) by Karim Aïnouz.

On the Indonesian cinema front, Jakarta Film Week will host several highly anticipated premieres. The Direction Award program will present the premieres of Togel (2026) by Yogi S. Calam and Harga Teman (2026) by Andrew Kose. The Global Feature Official Selection will feature Four Seasons in Java (2026) by Kamila Andini, an international co-production involving Indonesia, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore. The spirit of international collaboration will also be reflected in Next Step Studio, an Indonesia–France collaborative program featuring Holy Crowd (2026), Original Wound (2026), Annisa (2026), and Mothers Are Mothering (2026).

Another achievement this year comes from Jakarta Film Fund, which has produced eight short films, three of which are part of Jakarta Film Fund for Student, a collaboration with J-Youth Film Festival 2026.

“This year’s film program has been curated to explore diversity, from films anticipated by audiences to Indonesian premieres that address issues relevant to our lives today. For the first time, audiences will also be able to watch eight short films set in Jakarta through Jakarta Film Fund. This is a new achievement for us in facilitating emerging talent among filmmakers in Jakarta,” added Novi Hanabi, Program Manager of Jakarta Film Week 2026.

JFWNET—Industry Program: A Space for Young Indonesian Film Professionals to Grow

Through JFWNET–Industry Program, Jakarta Film Week once again provides a space for filmmakers and industry professionals to meet, exchange knowledge, build networks, and explore collaboration opportunities through Producers Lab, Pitching Forum, Talents Hub, Industry Talk, and Festival Meeting. The program creates pathways for participants to continue their journeys to platforms such as Goedam, BIFAN Fantastic School, and Platform Busan, as well as opportunities for support toward the Cannes Film Festival.

Producers Lab 2026 brings together ten selected emerging Indonesian producers from West Sumatra, Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, and Kalimantan. Talents Hub 2026 features emerging filmmakers recommended by Minikino Film Week, Mollucas Film Festival, CRAFT Animfest, and Layar Indonesiana for local participants, as well as CinemaWorld Singapore, QCinema International Film Festival in the Philippines, and Autumn Meeting Vietnam for international participants. Pitching Forum 2026 focuses on Indonesian projects seeking national and international support and collaboration, with a diverse range of genres, from horror to animation, reflecting the current landscape of Indonesia’s film industry.

This year’s JFWNET–Industry Program also collaborates with Cerita Anak Nusantara, a story idea competition for Indonesian children’s and family entertainment presented by Netflix in partnership with the Indonesian Film Producers Association (APROFI) and the Indonesian Film Board (BPI). Ten film projects from various cities across Indonesia will pitch their ideas at Jakarta Film Week 2026.

“JFWNET–Industry Program seeks to open doors for young filmmakers, providing a space where they can grow, connect with international partners, and take their next steps, as demonstrated by our alumni. Each year, this ecosystem continues to expand and welcome new faces,” said Gayatri Nadya, Head of Industry of Jakarta Film Week 2026.

Jakarta Film Week 2026: A Space for Audiences Across Generations

Jakarta Film Week 2026 serves as a space to enrich film literacy across generations. Programs such as Emergency Broadcast and Herstory invite audiences to discuss current issues through the lens of cinema; international competition programs and Fantasea bring the latest film trends from around the world; while Family Time offers family-friendly screenings with experiences that remain interactive and immersive. This diversity of programs makes Jakarta Film Week an open space for everyone, from young audiences to families, to discover their own cinematic experiences.

“Whatever you are looking for in a film festival, whether it is an issue you want to discuss, the latest cinema trends, or films to enjoy with your family, you can find it all at Jakarta Film Week. I invite everyone to come and experience the festival in whichever way they choose, especially those around my age, so we can enjoy the film festival together,” concluded Ali Fikry, Festival Ambassador of Jakarta Film Week 2026.

Cross-Sector Collaboration

Jakarta Film Week 2026 is organized by the Jakarta Provincial Government in collaboration with the Jakarta Film Commission (JFC), with support from the Ministry of Culture through the Directorate General of Cultural Development, Utilization, and Promotion. The festival also strengthens international film connections with cities and partners across Hong Kong, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan through institutional partners such as the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Cinecittà, Japan Foundation, Erasmus Huis, Institut Français Indonesia, as well as the embassies of Italy, the Netherlands, France, and the United States. On the industry side, JFWNET–Industry Program collaborates with Netflix, ACFM Platform Busan, Short Film Corner Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes, Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum, HKIFF Industry, QCinema International Film Festival, and Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN).

Towards Jakarta Film Week 2026

Jakarta Film Week 2026 will take place from October 21–25, 2026, across several screening venues and creative spaces in Jakarta: CGV Grand Indonesia, Galeri Indonesia Kaya, Mercure Jakarta Cikini, Paviliun Raden Saleh ARTOTEL, Taman Ismail Marzuki, CGV FX Sudirman, and FX Sudirman. Tickets will be available through TIX.ID starting October 7, 2026, and audiences can also purchase tickets on-site. Complete information about the programs, screening schedules, and tickets is available at www.jakartafilmweek.com  and through the festival’s social media account, @jakartafilmweek.

Join us at Jakarta Film Week 2026 and discover new stories and perspectives through ENCOUNTERS.