Todd Haynes has spoken for the first time about his Joaquin Phoenix-led gay romance that fell apart just five days before filming. During a conversation at Marrakech Film Festival on Friday, Haynes was asked about the project, which the moderator initially said the director would not speak on. However, Haynes proceeded to make a brief […]

Global sales, production, and finance company EST N8 has acquired “Hutang Nyawa,” an Indonesian horror film due to release Dec. 12. The acquisition was made during the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF). Directed by Billy Christian, a filmmaker with over a decade of horror films under his belt, “Hutang Nyawa” tells the story of Erwina, […]

After a trio of controversy-courting biographies, Russian auteur Kirill Serebrennikov will next tackle a more genteel original drama about photography shot and set in France. Described as a “chamber film” and “almost a love story” cast on a more intimate scale, the project will be Serebrennikov’s first-ever French language feature. Following 2022’s “Tchaikovsky’s Wife” with […]

Ho Yuhang’s “The Silent Village” (Aman/Damai) emerged as the top winner at Indonesia’s inaugural JAFF Market, scoring both the Kongchak and BSM awards as the market wrapped its 2024 edition Thursday in Yogyakarta (Jogja). The market took place alongside the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF) from Dec. 3-5. “The Silent Village,” a Malaysia-Indonesia co-production written […]

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — Anticipating the shape of things to come in Latin America, with cross-border collaboration a burgeoning mantra, the cities of São Paulo and Montevideo has signed a wide-ranging framework accord, facilitating collaboration across a broad front of channels. The pact was announced Tuesday at this week’s Ventana Sur, Latin America’s highest-profile film-TV market […]

Indonesian film industry leaders outlined frameworks for effective brand partnerships during a panel at the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival’s JAFF Market, pointing to the sector’s development as a commercial platform. Veteran producer Mira Lesmana (“What’s Up With Love?”, “Sherina’s Adventure”, “Gie”) emphasized a comprehensive approach to brand integration. “Brand activations can [easily] be built into […]

Documentary “Sampai Mati” (Until Death), which explores the aftermath of the 2002 Bali bombings through the perspectives of Australian survivors and Balinese locals, is being presented at the inaugural JAFF Market in Yogyakarta. The project, helmed by Australian director Ben Golotta and produced by Morgan Wright, brings a personal connection to the tragic events, as […]

Film distribution strategies are changing with the times, according to panelists at Indonesia’s inaugural JAFF Market, with experts presenting contrasting approaches to reaching audiences. Alternativa Film Projects, which launched in September 2023, approaches distribution through community screenings and discussions. “Film is a good starting point for change,” said Masha Shcherbakova, impact and community manager of […]

Indonesian production “The Light of Fire” (Tinju Api), a coming-of-age action drama from director-writer Sesarini, is being presented at the inaugural JAFF Market, running alongside the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival. The project, produced by Lyza Anggraheni and Ismail Basbeth under their banner Ruang Basbeth Bercerita, follows 17-year-old Yuda, whose father is killed in an underground […]

Former table tennis champion turned match-fixer finds redemption through the sport in family drama from emerging filmmaker Najam Yardo, being presented at the inaugural JAFF Market. The project, produced by Hannan Cinthya under the Kreasi Angkasa Semesta – Arungi Films banner, follows 50-year-old Emma, who faces mounting medical bills for her son’s lymph node tuberculosis […]

A new documentary project, “Me, My Mother’s Favorite Monkey” (Aku, Monyet Kesayangan Ibuku), helmed by director Ivonne Kani, examines Chinese-Indonesian identity through the lens of intergenerational family dynamics at the inaugural JAFF Market in Yogyakarta. The film follows Kani’s year-long journey exploring her cultural heritage through traditional Chinese rituals including Chinese New Year, Tomb Sweeping […]

Singapore’s Silver Media Group is teaming with U.S. companies Ford Studios and Ark Entertainment on “Samurai Saint,” an animated feature chronicling the true story of Takayama Ukon, a 16th-century samurai who chose exile over renouncing his Christian faith. The project was unveiled on the sidelines of the inaugural JAFF Market that takes place alongside the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF) […]

The newly signed co-production treaty between the Netherlands and Indonesia aims to strengthen bilateral film collaboration, providing filmmakers from both countries access to national funding schemes and production incentives, industry leaders revealed at the inaugural JAFF Market in Jogja, Indonesia during a panel. The inaugural JAFF Market takes place alongside the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF) in Yogyakarta from Dec. […]

Netflix is building on its 2023 Series Pitch Lab success by conducting the Reel Life Film Camp in partnership with the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF). The initiative, backed by the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, marks an expansion into Indonesia following its earlier run in Thailand. The program selected 75 participants from over 600 […]

Filmmaker Pablo Pérez Lombardini cut his teeth working with leading Latin American directors, including Alonso Ruizpalacios (“A Cop Movie”), Rodrigo Plá and Laura Santullo (“The Other Tom”). Now, Pérez is making his solo directing debut with the environmental thriller “The Reserve,” participating at this year’s Copia Final section of Ventana Sur. Based on real testimonies […]

Sean Penn is “proud” about President Joe Biden’s most recent pardon. “Any father that didn’t do that would have been remiss,” Penn tells Variety, adding:  “I don’t know if I want to have a beer with somebody who wouldn’t have pardoned Hunter Biden, being their son.” As a close friend and confidant of the younger […]

The youngest Indonesian director to have won the Citra Award for Best Picture at the Indonesian Film Festival in 2014, Angga Dwimas Sasongko, finds immense optimism seeing the rapid growth of Indonesian cinema in a year that has seen it claim a significant market share locally. “It’s about time,” he told Variety, seeing the enthusiasm […]

Leading Indonesian studio Magma Entertainment presented its upcoming slate and premiered new content at the ongoing Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF) and JAFF Market, marking an expansion across multiple genres from 2025 through 2028. The company screened nine minutes from “Qodrat 2,” the sequel to its hit 2022 film, with director Charles Gozali, producer Linda […]

The Netherlands and Indonesia signed an audiovisual co-production agreement at the inaugural JAFF Market on Wednesday. The treaty was signed by Indonesian Deputy Minister of Culture Giring Ganesha Djumaryo and Barbera Wolfensberger, Director-General of Culture and Media at the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science for the Netherlands, with Dutch and Indonesian dignitaries present. […]