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.
The bilateral treaty recognizes qualifying co-productions as national productions in both countries, opening access to subsidies including support from the Netherlands Film Fund and a potential 35% cash rebate through the Netherlands Film Production Incentive. It aims to foster creative partnerships between Dutch and Indonesian film professionals while preserving cultural identities of both nations. It provides legal clarity on co-production status and financial contributions, with mechanisms for artistic and technical collaboration between professionals from both countries.
The agreement establishes a framework for joint production of films, documentaries, animations and digital content between the two countries. It arrives as Indonesia positions itself as a key player in Southeast Asia’s expanding film market.
The agreement emerged from growing demand for collaboration between independent filmmakers in both nations, leveraging their shared colonial history and combining Indonesia’s expanding film sector with Dutch production expertise.
“This joint production not only strengthens cultural ties between the two countries but also provides broader opportunities for our filmmakers to access global resources, including funding and international distribution,” Djumaryo said at the signing ceremony. “Through this collaboration, we hope Indonesian filmmakers’ works will gain more recognition on the world stage.”
“The treaty will open doors for Indonesian and Dutch filmmakers to collaborate on new and exciting projects, to combine their talents and expertise, and to bring to life stories that transcend borders and resonate with audiences around the globe,” Wolfensberger added.
The JAFF Market, Indonesia’s first major film marketplace, has drawn more than 100 production companies and distributors from both domestic and international markets. It takes place alongside the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF) in Yogyakarta (Jogja) from Dec. 3-5. The market represents Indonesia’s latest move to establish itself as a regional hub for film production and distribution.
“JAFF not only promotes Indonesian films but also creates collaborative spaces for local and international filmmakers, expands industry networks, and provides educational and skill enhancement opportunities for young filmmakers,” Djumaryo noted.
The festival’s programming includes filmmaker training initiatives aimed at developing technical expertise and market access for emerging talent. These educational components align with government efforts to build sustainable infrastructure for the country’s film sector.
Indonesia currently represents the largest film market in Southeast Asia, with the government implementing various programs to attract international production activity. The Dutch co-production agreement marks the latest in a series of moves at the JAFF market, including an Indonesia-France Film Lab and an understanding with the Producers’ Guild of Korea, to forge stronger ties with global entertainment partners.
By Naman Ramachandran
