JAFF Market Showcasing Indonesia’s Expanding Creative Industries at the Cannes Film Festival

JAFF Market Showcasing Indonesia’s

Expanding Creative Industries at the Cannes Film Festival

 

Jakarta, 12 May 2025 – Indonesia’s Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (JAFF), one the leading celebration of Asian cinema, returns to the Cannes Film Festival this year with a strong delegation to celebrate the upcoming 20th edition of the festival. JAFF Market, its professional industry platform, attends the Marché du Film with multiple partnerships and project highlights. 

 

JAFF Market projects presented in Cannes

This year, JAFF Market proudly supports multiple Indonesian filmmakers, studios, producers and projects participating in Cannes. Among them is Pangku, a coming-of-age drama set during Indonesia’s 1998 economic crisis and the directorial debut of celebrated Indonesian actor Reza Rahadian. First presented through JAFF Future Project 2024, Pangku won the White Light Post-Production Award and will screen in the “HAF Goes to Cannes” program at Marché du Film, representing the depth of Indonesian narrative cinema.

 

Furthermore, three original IP projects presented at JAFF Content Market 2024 will also travel to Marché du Film’s Spotlight Asia - ​​Asian IP Adaptation: Showbox Masterclass & Pitching Session, reflecting JAFF Market’s efforts to push Indonesian stories to the world. The projects are:

Locust from independent publisher Kosmik, founded by veteran comic artist Sunny Gho. Sunny has contributed artwork and coloring to major Marvel, DC, and Star Wars comic lines, while also driving Indonesia’s independent comic scene through Kosmik and JICAF.

Bandits of Batavia by Bryan Valenza and his studio Beyondtopia. Valenza is recognized globally for his work on Venom: Lethal Protector, Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo, and numerous Image Comics titles. His latest project fuses Indonesian folklore with dynamic visual storytelling.

Jitu, from Caravan Studio, was founded by illustrator and designer Chris Lie. Caravan has contributed to top entertainment properties, including Game of Thrones, Transformers, Star Wars, and Shazam, and worked with industry giants such as Sony, Konami, Mattel, and Marvel Comics.

 

“Cannes offers us an opportunity to share the energy and opportunities of the Indonesian film industry’s growth unfolding in Indonesia. It’s especially meaningful to see several of our JAFF Market-selected films and IP projects, including Pangku, Locust, Bandits of Batavia, and Jitu, now stepping onto the global stage at Cannes.” said Ifa Isfansyah, Festival Director of JAFF and President Commissioner of JAFF Market.

 

JAFF Market Partnerships events in Cannes

In addition, JAFF Market partners with the Netherlands Film Fund on May 16th at the SEE NL pavilion on a match-making reception for Indonesians and Dutch filmmakers and industry to reinforce the co-production treaty signed between the two countries last year at JAFF Market. The event is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Republic of Indonesia. 

Adelaide Film Festival, one of the partners of the 2024 JAFF Market, will  host an exchange session between Australian filmmakers and the JAFF Market management on May 18th at the Screen Australia booth. This will further engage respective filmmakers and a film industry from one of Indonesia’s closest neighbours. 

To further enhance the profile of the Indonesian studios and investors, JAFF Markets partners with Visinema* and Jagartha** to connect the two Indonesian powerhouses with the international industry via a series of networking events. 

 

“The upcoming 2025 JAFF Market is a major milestone – not only does JAFF celebrate two decades of championing Asian cinema, but JAFF Market is back with even more ambition, activating the entire ecosystem and building a collaborative platform where local and international filmmakers, producers, and industry players can meet and set the foundation for future co-productions and partnerships,” said Linda Gozali, JAFF Market Director. “With the incredible response to our first edition in 2024, Cannes is the perfect setting to expand those conversations and create lasting impact for the Indonesian film ecosystem.

 

Indonesia’s film sector continues to surge, achieving over 80 million admissions and sustaining 65% local box office market share in 2024 alone. As JAFF celebrates its 20th anniversary, the second edition of JAFF Market will take place from November 29 to December 1, 2025, in Yogyakarta. It will build on this momentum to foster global collaboration and promote Southeast Asia’s next generation of storytellers. 

 

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About JAFF & JAFF MARKET

 

Founded in 2006 in response to the rise of digital distribution in the early 2000s, the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (JAFF) has become a vital platform for strengthening the film ecosystem in Yogyakarta and across Indonesia. More than just a film festival, JAFF serves as a center for learning, cultural exchange, and a launching ground for emerging Asian filmmakers.

As digital distribution expanded globally, Indonesia has become one of Southeast Asia’s largest film markets, creating an urgent demand for talented creators and skilled industry professionals. From this need, JAFF Market was established as an industry hub to connect filmmakers, emerging talent, content creators, investors, film institutions, media, and local film communities.

 

Today, as the gateway to the booming Indonesian film industry, JAFF MARKET stands as Southeast Asia’s premier film market, offering a dynamic space for collaborations and business opportunities across the industry. With a strong lineup of programs, it continues to evolve as a leading event dedicated to driving innovation and strengthening Indonesia’s dynamic film ecosystem. 

 

Get ready for JAFF & JAFF MARKET 2025 - November 29 - Dec 6, 2025 — Let’s Shape the Future of Asian Cinema! 

 

*Visinema, founded in 2008, is a leading force in Indonesia’s entertainment industry, known for producing critically acclaimed and commercially successful films such as Cemara’s Family, One Day We’ll Talk About Today, Stealing Raden Saleh, and the record-breaking animated hit JUMBO (2025)—now the highest-grossing animated film in Southeast Asia and one of Indonesia’s top two box office titles of all time. 

**Jagartha Group is an integrated investment and advisory platform based in Jakarta, Indonesia, focused on strategic, impact-driven ventures across finance and the creative economy. Through its flagship, Jagartha Advisors, the group is licensed by the Financial Services Authority (OJK) and oversees over USD 200 million in capital across capital markets and alternative assets. Jagartha is also a pioneer in film financing and content investment, backing acclaimed Indonesian titles like Agak Laen, Mencuri Raden Saleh and Jatuh Cinta Seperti di Film-Film. The group bridges private capital with creative talent