Indonesia has made a significant move to bolster its film industry with the announcement of the first recipients of the government-backed Film Matchfund at the Cannes Film Festival. This initiative, launched by Nadiem Makarim, Indonesia’s Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, is designed to enhance the international presence of Indonesian cinema. Supported by a $13 million annual allocation from the National Cultural Endowment Fund, the Matchfund aims to encourage international co-productions and support various stages of film production and distribution.
This year’s inaugural beneficiaries include four ambitious projects: “This City Is a Battlefield” by Mouly Surya, produced by Rama Adi and Fauzan Zidni under Cinesurya; “Crocodile Tears” by Tumpal Tampubolon, produced by Mandy Marahimin of Talamedia; “Samsara” by Garin Nugroho, produced by Gita Fara of Cineria Films; and “Tale of the Land” by Loeloe Hendra, produced by Yulia Evina Bhara and Amerta Kusuma of KawanKawan Media. These films, already attracting international grants totaling €1.38 million ($1.5 million) from reputable sources like the Hubert Bals Fund and World Cinema Fund, will receive matching funds from the Film Matchfund.
The announcement was made during the “Indonesian Night” at Cannes, where Hilmar Farid, the director general of culture, highlighted the fund’s goals. He expressed hope that the Matchfund would not only foster creative projects but also enhance the global competitiveness of Indonesian filmmakers by expanding international networks and transferring expertise.
Alex Sihar, special staff to the director general and chair of the Asian Film Alliance Network at Cannes, noted significant interest from foreign producers in collaborating with Indonesian filmmakers due to the new fund.
The Film Matchfund, now open to all Indonesian filmmakers involved in internationally supported projects, marks a promising step towards integrating Indonesia more deeply into the global cinema landscape. This initiative is expected to significantly boost the production of globally competitive films showcasing Indonesia’s diverse culture.
