Category: news

By: Gita Fara – Head of Program, JAFF Market

Success for a filmmaker in Asia’s rapidly growing yet uneven film landscape, requires more than vision. It requires the infrastructure that supports creative voices at every stage of the process, from concept to screen to global distribution. That’s exactly what JAFF Market, the industry platform of the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (JAFF), is designed to provide.

JAFF Market is a single space where six distinct initiatives unfold simultaneously over three days. Each initiative is built to support a specific phase of the content value chain, but together they create a holistic system of support, interaction, and growth.

At one end of the venue during the three-day event, you might find film projects being pitched at the JAFF Future Project. Here early-stage ideas and works-in-progress are sharpened to move to the next stage. Just meters away, the JAFF Content Market brings together original IP creators with producers, studios, and IP buyers seeking compelling new material for screen adaptation, offering a clear pathway for IP to make its way to audiences.

Talent Day invites emerging professionals into curated workshops and meetings with seasoned industry figures, helping them chart their career paths and build their professional networks. Meanwhile, the Film & Market Conference anchors the market’s industry dialogue. Thought leaders and professionals from across sectors convene in panels, keynotes, and roundtable sessions, to tackle the most pressing topics of the moment: co-production strategies, digital rights management, sustainability in storytelling, and cross-sector collaboration.

All day long, curated selections from JAFF light up the Market Screening where both released and unreleased titles are presented to industry delegates. These screenings often spark conversations that lead to distribution opportunities, festival interest, and unexpected partnerships.

What sets JAFF Market apart is how it places incubation, development, and industry access side by side. This unique design encourages spontaneous and meaningful interactions across disciplines and stages of production. Creators connect with partners in real time, ideas evolve through chance encounters, and innovation emerges not just through formal deals but through ongoing dialogue. This fluid structure nurtures a more complete ecosystem where creativity and commerce move together, shaping new possibilities for the future of storytelling.

In Indonesia, where annual cinema admissions surpassed 35 million by May 2025, JAFF Market is an active driver of industry momentum. JAFF Market doesn’t just celebrate the rise of local cinema; it helps shape its trajectory by fostering collaboration, empowering talent, and opening new avenues for growth across the creative economy.

As Southeast Asia continues to emerge as a global storytelling powerhouse, platforms like JAFF Market are more essential than ever. Its model offers a blueprint for how local infrastructure can scale to meet global opportunity. This isn’t just a film market, it’s the infrastructure  setting the new creative economy in motion.

By: JAFF Market

Asian cinema is undergoing a renaissance. From South Korea’s global breakthrough to the rise of Southeast Asian storytellers, the region is making its mark on the international stage. Yet behind every Cannes selection or streaming platform hit is a story that almost didn’t happen. The gap between a filmmaker’s vision and the resources needed to realize it is still vast, especially for emerging voices.

This is where JAFF Future Project steps in. Positioned at the crossroads of artistry, access, and industry, it is not just a showcase, but a dynamic networking platform. Using a speed-dating format, JAFF Future Project creates targeted opportunities for filmmakers to meet potential partners such as investors, producers, distributors, festival programmers, funders, and online collaborators, all in one place.

JAFF Future Project is designed to address the challenges that filmmakers in Indonesia and across much of Asia face: limited funding, fragmented industry connections, and the absence of efficient entry points into the global market. JAFF Future Project simplifies this process of finding partners by offering a curated environment designed for connection and deal-making.

Over three days, selected filmmakers will participate in curated networking rounds, one-on-one meetings, and group mixers, each arranged with a clear purpose of finding partners whether to secure financing, explore co-productions, negotiate distribution, or unlock new creative and business partnerships.

Participants are selected based on originality, market relevance, and the readiness to engage with potential partners. Once in the program, participants are matched with industry figures best aligned to their project’s needs. The emphasis is on stories rooted in regional authenticity, but with the capacity to connect to global audiences.

“For us, the key is creating the right meeting at the right moment,” said Meiske Taurisia, JAFF Future Project Advisor. “In the film industry, timing is everything. A single meeting can spark an international co-production, open funding channels that were previously out of reach, or set a project on course for a premiere at a major festival. Our role is to ensure each meeting has direction and strategic potential—not just casual introductions, and build the foundation for collaborations that can take a project to the next stage.”

JAFF Future Project is built on trust. Trust in bold creators and in the power of introducing them to the right partners at the right time. The next generation of storytellers from Asia are already here; they just need a direct path to the networks that can bring their stories to life.

In its first edition, the results spoke volumes. Projects like Pangku by Reza Rahadian, which participated in the program, went on to secure a market screening at Marché du Film at Festival de Cannes 2025. More importantly, the project connected with partners who could carry it forward, proof that the right meeting can change a project’s trajectory.

Participants consistently cite the value of these connections: finding collaborators across borders, gaining insight into funding landscapes, and forming relationships that extend well beyond the market. The program also fosters a peer network of filmmakers who champion each other’s work long after the event ends.

The impact goes beyond individual projects. By enabling connections across the content value chain from script consultants, line producers, and post-production houses to sales agents and legal advisors, the program strengthens the entire ecosystem.

With Indonesia’s cinema admissions for 2025 already surpassing 35 million , JAFF Future Project ensures that audience growth is matched by a pipeline of quality, diverse, and globally competitive content.

To keep pace with an evolving industry, future editions will look to expanding regional mobility, growing its alumni network, and integrating more directly with buyers and digital platforms. Sustainable funding from cultural institutions and private investors will be key to scaling its reach.

JAFF Future Project is not just about giving projects a head start. It’s about creating the encounters that turn ideas into deals, and deals into screens that resonate worldwide. This is what a modern networking platform can do: connect the next wave of filmmakers with the partners who can help them ride the wave.

By: Sekarini Seruni – Business Director, JAFF Market
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Film markets have long been the domain of producers, distributors, and sales agents, the traditional players of the entertainment economy. But as the boundaries between media sectors continue to blur, a new model of engagement is emerging. At JAFF Market 2025, that model comes into sharp focus. The convergence of feature film with other sectors like streaming, publishing, and social media is not an anomaly; it is the future.

Where film markets have often served as a platform for film deals, JAFF Market has evolved into a dynamic laboratory of cross-sector collaboration. It is a space where storytellers engage directly with strategists, and where filmmakers find common ground with innovators working across creative domains and with new technologies. More than sponsorships or side conversations, they are co-creative relationships that redefine the boundaries of narrative, funding, and audience experience.

Across Asia and around the world, content has become one of the most valuable currencies. For instance, fashion brands are working with leading auteurs to craft cinematic campaigns to deepen consumer connections. Tech companies are partnering with filmmakers to enhance immersive experiences through AI and analytics. The implications are clear: content is no longer confined to screens, it is embedded across industries.

JAFF Market is uniquely positioned to harness this transformation. Rooted in the values of independent cinema yet expansive in its outlook, the market has curated a space that encourages productive collisions between the creative and corporate worlds. In 2025, Amar Bank’s participation in JAFF Market symbolizes this strategic alignment between business and the creative economy. Amar Bank is at the forefront of alternative financing models tailored for the creative economy to empower creators through access to capital.

Along with Amar Bank, at JAFF Market we encourage others to tap into this momentum. JAFF Market is an open invitation to step in, collaborate, and co-create bold new storytelling experiences. By collaborating with filmmakers, transform ideas into products, experiences, and strategies that extend far beyond the screen. JAFF Market is not just a space to pitch projects ; it’s a vibrant launchpad where bold ideas are realized, and cross-sector innovation comes to life.

What makes these partnerships work is a shared commitment to storytelling where all participants are united by the power of narrative. JAFF Market was created not just for film professionals, but for anyone who believes that stories can shape both culture and commerce. That spirit of inclusivity is what drives true innovation.

Cross-sector innovation does not come without challenges. Gaps in communication, differing timelines, and complex IP negotiations can slow progress. However, JAFF Market’s curated meetings and mentorships help overcome those hurdles. By emphasizing mutual learning and shared intent, the JAFF Market is designed to foster meaningful collaboration rather than opportunistic deals.

As the creative economy continues to expand, JAFF Market is paving the way for more structured innovation. Expect to see cross-sector incubators, co-financing labs, and knowledge-sharing networks that bring film closer to innovation-driven sectors and beyond. The goal is not to dilute cinematic expression but to empower it, ensuring stories find new life, new formats, and new audiences.

The real magic of JAFF Market lies in its capacity to surprise. It is the unexpected encounter between creative minds from different fields that sparks new forms of innovation. When creators and corporations collide with respect, curiosity, and vision, the result is more than a deal. It becomes a new blueprint for how industries can shape culture together.

JAFF Market is more than the evolution of the film industry. It embodies the future of the content economy, where every brand can become a narrative partner and every story can inspire innovation.

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (JAFF) is encouraging aspiring Indonesian filmmakers to build strong and lasting connections with the global film industry by registering for the JAFF Market program.

In a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Tuesday, JAFF Market Director Linda Gozali said that these opportunities for connection are provided through initiatives such as the JAFF Future Project and the JAFF Content Market.

Through these two programs, JAFF Market plays a role in strategically synergizing with filmmakers by providing a platform that fosters the growth of the film industry in the Asia-Pacific region in general, including Indonesia.

The JAFF Market program not only offers connections for creative development, but also strengthens pathways for distribution, partnerships, and cross-sector innovation.

As the Secretary General of the Indonesian Film Producers Association (Aprofi), Linda emphasized that JAFF Market is committed to showcasing the best narratives from Indonesia and the Asia-Pacific region on the world stage.

She noted that during its inaugural edition in 2024, JAFF Market successfully supported a number of Indonesian filmmakers and film projects in reaching the Marché du Film (MdF) at the Cannes Film Festival in France.

One such project was Pangku (On Your Lap), the directorial debut of actor Reza Rahadian, which gained recognition through the JAFF Future Project 2024.

The film went on to win the White Light Post-Production Award and was featured at the Cannes International Film Festival 2025 as part of the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) “Goes to Cannes” program.

In addition, at Cannes, JAFF Market also brought three original intellectual properties (IPs) from the JAFF Content Market 2024 to the “Spotlight Asia” program.

For its second edition, the JAFF Future Project is collaborating with the Adelaide Film Festival (AFF). This partnership expands opportunities for filmmakers to present or pitch their story ideas directly to international investors.

The opportunity is also open to film projects that have already entered early production stages, whether still in development, pre-production, or currently in progress.

JAFF Market Head of Program Gita Fara added that selected applicants will be granted exclusive access to opportunities such as pitching in front of producers, buyers, and decision-makers from across Asia and around the globe.

They will also gain access to one-on-one sessions with potential partners, promotional and publicity exposure through JAFF Market’s official materials, and full access to the entire series of JAFF Market events.

Submissions, whether film projects or original IPs, can be made from August 1 to September 1, 2025, through the online application available at www.jaff-market.com.

Participants of the JAFF Future Project 2024. (Image courtesy of JAFF Market)

The JAFF Future Project and JAFF Content Market return as part of JAFF Market, which will take place on November 29 – December 1, 2025, in Yogyakarta. Open to support the development of Asia-Pacific film projects and the international circulation of Indonesian content, filmmakers and original intellectual property (IP) creators are now invited to submit their works.

Submissions can be made through the online application at www.jaff-market.com from August 1 to September 1, 2025. Both the JAFF Future Project and the JAFF Content Market are recognized as key platforms driving the growth of the Asian film industry. Beyond highlighting creative aspects, they also strengthen distribution channels, partnerships, and cross-sector innovation.

JAFF Market Director Linda Gozali emphasized that JAFF Market serves as a strategic platform for building long-term connectivity among industry players. “Through JAFF Future Project and JAFF Content Market, we aim to strengthen Indonesia’s and Asia’s position as sources of narratives, innovation, and market opportunities. It is not only about the content or the market, but also about the strategy,” stated on Tuesday (Aug 26, 2025).

This year, the JAFF Future Project continues its partnership with the Adelaide Film Festival (AFF) through the AFF Festival Bridges initiative, supported by the Australian Government, to provide broader international access for selected participants through opportunities for cross-festival collaboration and pitching.

The feature film incubation program is open to submissions from the Asia-Pacific region for projects in the stages of In-Development, Pre-Production, or Work-in-Progress, including both fiction and documentary. Through pitching sessions and industry networking, JAFF Future Project serves as a launching pad for emerging filmmakers to bring their projects closer to realization.

Meanwhile, the JAFF Content Market focuses on original IP works with adaptation potential which ranging from books, comics, games, and songs to digital content. It encourages Indonesian IP owners to expand distribution reach and unlock adaptation opportunities across formats, from feature films and digital platforms to potential franchises.

JAFF Market Head of Program Gita Fara stated that JAFF Market ensures every selected project receives relevant support to expand its reach and impact. According to her, both JAFF Future Project and JAFF Content Market serve as strategic accelerators for the film industry, not only expediting the development of new works but also providing a platform to showcase new talents from Indonesia and Asia to a wider audience.

“Through this initiative, we are committed to opening access to collaboration, networks, and funding opportunities that can foster creative growth while strengthening the position of Indonesian and Asian cinema on the global stage,” she explained.

This year, selected participants from JAFF Future Project and JAFF Content Market will be granted exclusive access to opportunities such as pitching in front of producers, buyers, and decision-makers from across Asia and around the globe. They will also gain access to one-on-one sessions with potential partners, promotional and publicity exposure through JAFF Market’s official materials, and full access to the entire series of JAFF Market events.

During its inaugural edition in 2024, JAFF Market supported a number of Indonesian filmmakers, studios, producers, and projects in participating at Cannes. One highlight was Pangku, a coming-of-age drama set during the 1998 Indonesian economic crisis and the directorial debut of acclaimed Indonesian actor Reza Rahadian.

First introduced through the JAFF Future Project 2024, the film won the White Light Post-Production Award and was screened in the HAF Goes to Cannes program at the 2025 Marché du Film, representing the strength of Indonesian cinematic storytelling.

In addition to Pangku, three original IP projects from the JAFF Content Market 2024 were also brought to the Spotlight Asia – Asian IP Showcase: Showbox Masterclass & Pitching Session at the Marché du Film, underscoring JAFF Market’s commitment to elevating Indonesia’s rich stories and culture onto the world stage.

The Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (JAFF) Market is thrilled to announce that submissions are now officially open for the 2025 edition of JAFF Future Project and JAFF Content Market, inviting filmmakers and IP creators from Indonesia and the wider Asian region to seize this exceptional opportunity.

Entering its second year, the initiative is tailored to foster creative development, strengthen distribution channels, build industry partnerships, and elevate cross-sector collaborations.

Key Highlights:

• JAFF Future Project (In partnership with Adelaide Film Festival’s AFF Festival Bridges program): Designed for feature-length projects—fiction or documentary—in the development, pre-production, or works-in-progress stages. Selected projects will gain privileged access to pitching sessions, industry matchmaking, and networking opportunities aimed at accelerating production pathways.
• JAFF Content Market: Focused on market-ready original IP—spanning books, comics, games, music, non-fiction works, films, series, animation, and more. Intended for IP creators who wish to explore adaptation potential, distribution reach, and franchise development. Participants will connect directly with decision-makers including buyers, production partners, and platforms.
• Submission Deadline: 1 September 2025, 11:59 PM (GMT+7). Rules and regulations are detailed on the JAFF Market website’s respective pages for each initiative.

JAFF Market’s Global Track Record

Building on its successful 2024 edition, JAFF Market continues to highlight the vibrancy of Indonesian storytelling on the world stage:

• Pangku (On Your Lap)—an alumni of JAFF Future Project—won the White Light Post-Production Award and earned a spot in the HAF Goes to Cannes program at the Marché du Film.
• Three original IP projects from the 2024 Content Market—Bandits of Batavia, Locust, and Jitu—were showcased in the Spotlight Asia – Asian IP Showcase during the Showbox Masterclass & Pitching Session at Marché du Film.

These accomplishments underscore JAFF Market’s mission to promote Indonesian and Asian narratives globally.

Applying Is Easy

Prospective applicants can submit their projects online at www.jaff-market.com. Be sure to review the rules and regulations for each category prior to applying.

About JAFF Market

The JAFF Market is Asia’s premier film and content marketplace, offering filmmakers and IP creators unparalleled guidance, networking, and exposure. Held annually in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, it serves as a dynamic platform linking creative minds across Asia with global platforms, partners, and opportunities.

The Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF) is gearing up for the second edition of JAFF Market at the Jogja Expo Center in Yogyakarta.

The industry platform returns following a successful inaugural run in 2024 that drew 6,700 participants from 19 countries, featured 151 exhibition booths, and facilitated 63 business deals totaling around IDR36 billion ($2.2 million). The event forms part of JAFF’s 20th anniversary celebrations as one of Asia Pacific’s leading film festivals.

“JAFF Market was born from JAFF’s long-standing commitment to champion Asian independent cinema,” said Ifa Isfansyah, festival director of JAFF. “We now expand that vision by building an industry-facing space designed to meet today’s demands – one that helps Indonesian stories thrive and compete globally.”
The second edition maintains the six core programs designed to activate the creative value chain: JAFF Future Project for project incubation, Content Market for IP showcase and business matchmaking, Talent Day for emerging talent mentorship, Film & Market Conference for industry dialogues, Market Screening for private buyer screenings, and Film Lab for project development workshops.

The 2025 edition will present 12 films across three days in the JAFF Future Project, targeting Asia-Pacific region participants who incorporate Indonesian elements. The Content Market will showcase 10 IPs for adaptation opportunities, while Talent Day continues its collaboration with major industry players following last year’s partnership with Netflix.

Film Lab opens to five selected development-stage projects focusing on international co-production opportunities, targeting first or second-time feature directors. The Film & Market Conference partners again with APROFI (Indonesian Film Producers Association) to cover themes from talent and creativity to financing, innovation, and regulations.

Vice Minister of Culture Giring Ganesha said: “The government sees JAFF Market as a key partner in driving sustainable growth within the film industry. This platform brings together industry players, as well as laying the foundation for much-needed cross-sector collaboration – essential for positioning Indonesian cinema as both a cultural force and an economic driver in the region.”

Indonesian cinema faces structural challenges despite growing interest. As of May 2025, cinema admissions reached 35 million – 44% of 2024’s 80+ million total – but the country operates with just over 2,200 screens nationwide, creating distribution and IP monetization bottlenecks.

“Our goal is to position JAFF Market as a catalyst for growth across the national film ecosystem – from generating ideas and developing talents to distribution strategies and long-term partnerships,” said Linda Gozali, market director of JAFF Market. “We’re here to bridge Indonesian content with real-world opportunities – both locally and internationally.”

Alumni from JAFF Market 2024 have already made global impact. “Pangku,” a feature by Reza Rahadian, was selected for HAF Goes to Cannes at Marché du Film 2025, while three IP titles – “Bandits of Batavia,” “Jitu,” and “Locust” – successfully participated in the IP Pitching Forum in Cannes.

Early indicators show strong momentum for 2025, with more than 50% of booths already secured and rising sponsor interest. The event positions itself strategically at the end of Southeast Asia’s industry market calendar.

JAFF Market 2025, powered by principal sponsor Amar Bank, runs Nov. 29-Dec. 1. Submissions open July 15-Sept. 10 for most programs, with Content Market submissions closing Aug. 15. The full JAFF festival runs Nov. 29-Dec. 6.

By Naman Ramachandran

President Director of Amar Bank, Vishal Tulsian (left) expressed his full support for JAFF Market 2025 as an initial step in fostering synergy between the digital banking industry and the national film ecosystem. Marked by the symbolic handover of a clapperboard to the President Director of JAFF Market, Linda Gozali (right), this collaboration aims to optimize the potential of Indonesian film works while encouraging the growth of an inclusive, sustainable, and competitive film industry on the global stage

Entering its second year, JAFF Market—the first and largest platform in Indonesia for the Indonesian film industry—is collaborating with Amar Bank as a form of synergy between the financial technology industry and the national film ecosystem. This collaboration aims to optimize the potential of Indonesian film works while encouraging the growth of an inclusive, sustainable, and competitive film industry on the global stage.

by Isra Triansyah

The Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF) delegation has arrived at the Cannes Film Festival with plans to showcase Indonesia‘s burgeoning creative industries on the global stage.

As JAFF prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary, its industry platform JAFF Market is leveraging the festival to highlight multiple Indonesian projects and forge international partnerships.

Leading the Indonesian contingent is “Pangku,” the directorial debut from celebrated actor Reza Rahadian. The coming-of-age drama, set against Indonesia’s 1998 economic crisis, was first unveiled at JAFF Future Project 2024 where it secured the White Light Post-Production Award. The film will screen in the ‘HAF Goes to Cannes’ program at Marché du Film.

Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (JAFF), Indonesia’s largest and longest-running film festival, proudly announces its 20th edition, taking place from November 29 – December 6, 2025. Marking two decades of its journey, JAFF continues to serve as a premier platform for Asian filmmakers to celebrate, share, and develop the cinematic ecosystem.

Over the years, JAFF has been honored by the presence of esteemed figures such as Tsai Mingliang, renowned master director; Kim Dong-ho, founder of the Busan International Film Festival; Julien Rejl, artistic director of Cannes Directors’ Fortnight; Lee Kang Sheng, Taiwanese actor & director; Kristy Matheson, Director of BFI London Film Festival; and Park Sung Ho, Busan International Film Festival’s programmer. Their participation underscores JAFF’s significance in the global film community.

In 2024, the Indonesian box office achieved a historic milestone, surpassing 80 million admissions, with local films capturing a 65% market share. Notably, the closing film of JAFF 2024, “A Brother and 7 Siblings,” emerged as a box office hit, reflecting the festival’s role in spotlighting impactful cinema.

Following the success of its inaugural edition, JAFF MARKET will return on November 29 – December 1, 2025, providing a vital space for industry players to expand networks, explore collaboration opportunities, and strengthen Indonesia’s film industry on a global scale. “There are two key moments that make JAFF especially significant this year: the celebration of the festival’s 20th edition and the continuation of JAFF MARKET’s second edition following its remarkable success in its inaugural year. We will seize these moments to further strengthen JAFF’s position in supporting the culture and film industry in Indonesia. We are preparing a grand celebration to mark the festival’s 20-year journey, while this year’s JAFF MARKET will provide even more space for exhibitors and international film industry players,” said Ifa Isfansyah, Festival Director of JAFF & Chairman of JAFF MARKET.

JAFF distinguishes itself as the only film festival in Indonesia that unites key industry players, including Netflix, Vidio, MD Entertainment, Miles Films, Visinema, and more. Additionally, it collaborates with over 100 grassroots film communities from across Indonesia’s 17,000 islands, fostering a diverse and inclusive cinematic environment.

In 2024, JAFF recorded 24,462 visitors over eight days, reaffirming its position as the most dynamic film festival in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, the three-day JAFF MARKET (December 3–5, 2024) successfully hosted 151 booths from various industry sectors and attracted 6,723 participants, including producers, distributors, investors, and leading streaming platforms.

The debut of JAFF MARKET immediately captured the attention of the international industry. Choi Yoonhee, CEO of Barunson E&A, recognized JAFF MARKET as a strategic platform for connecting with Indonesia’s film industry. “We have been captivated by Indonesian cinema for years. One of Barunson E&A’s key focuses is collaborating with partners who share our vision of bringing extraordinary Indonesian films to both local and global markets. JAFF MARKET provides an integrated platform that gathers key industry players in one place, offering excellent programs
to understand the business and market direction of Indonesian cinema,” said Choi Yoonhee.

Renowned filmmaker Anthony Chen, who attended JAFF MARKET 2024, also highlighted the growth of Indonesia’s film industry and the emergence of promising new talents. “I have worked as a co-producer on several Indonesian films and have observed from afar the incredible energy emerging from this country. That’s why I was excited to experience Indonesian films from a local audience’s perspective and to discover new talents from a region that seems to hold limitless possibilities,” he said.

Returning bigger and more innovative, JAFF and JAFF MARKET 2025 will be a crucial meeting point for filmmakers, producers, distributors, and investors, reinforcing the film industry ecosystem in Indonesia and across Asia.
Save the Dates!
● JAFF 20 Film Submission Opens: March 1, 2025
● JAFF MARKET Booth Registration Opens: July 17, 2025
● JAFF 20: November 29 – December 6, 2025
● JAFF MARKET: November 29 – December 1, 2025

Rouven Linnarz