April 24, 2026 | 12:19 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Australia-Indonesia Film Festival (FSAI) makes its return this year. The festival’s 11th edition showcases seven curated films aimed at bolstering cultural exchange and collaboration between Indonesia and Australia.
The event is scheduled to run from May 8 to 23, 2026, across 11 Indonesian cities: Jakarta, Manado, Semarang, Medan, Bogor, Makassar, Surabaya, Kupang, Banjarmasin, Yogyakarta, and Mataram.
Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Rod Brazier remarked that the festival’s decade-plus milestone reflects a steadfast, joint commitment to a maturing creative partnership. Brazier noted, "FSAI has developed into a strong platform where Australian and Indonesian filmmakers can collaborate."
"The main goal is to strengthen the relationship between Australia and Indonesia at a people-to-people level by sharing each other's films," he said.
Beyond screenings, FSAI 2026 seeks to bolster creative industry ties and encourage Indonesian filmmakers to enter the global market by strengthening Intellectual Property (IP).
This year's festival offers a curated selection of seven contemporary feature films and four short films created by Australia Awards participants. Among the most anticipated highlights is "Screen on the Green," an open-air cinematic experience set in the Bogor Botanical Gardens, inviting audiences to enjoy film within a serene outdoor setting.
Representing the government, Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar emphasized the economic potential inherent in this bilateral cooperation. Irene highlighted that the bond between Indonesia and Australia transcends cultural exchange, delving into a profound exchange of technical expertise.
This creative economy vision is exemplified by the success of the animated feature Jumbo. The founder of Caravan Studio and a special guest of the festival revealed that Jumbo made history as one of Indonesia’s top-grossing films, drawing 10 million viewers in 2025.
As an Australia Awards alumnus, Chris Lie symbolizes the fruitful collaboration between the two nations, highlighting the immense potential of Indonesian animation.
For Chris, featuring Jumbo at FSAI 2026 is a strategic move to introduce the world of film festivals to a younger demographic. "The presence of Jumbo creates a space for children to engage with FSAI, so the festival becomes familiar to them from an early age, not just to adults," Chris said.
The participation of industry experts in this film festival is a significant added value to FSAI 2026. Alongside Chris Lie, the festival will host international guests including Andrew Commis, the acclaimed cinematographer behind The Force of Nature: The Dry 2, and Michelle Johnston, an Associate Professor from Curtin University. Both will lead technical masterclasses on cinematography and documentary production for the local film community, open to students, young filmmakers, and the public.
In 2025, FSAI recorded approximately 6,500 attendees. Enthusiasm is expected to rise as the festival expands its reach and diversifies its offerings to include horror, animation, and documentaries.
"It is our hope that the knowledge exchange between these two countries extends is not limited only to culture, but also into the technical realm. When two become one, the result is much richer," said Irene Umar.
Irene encouraged creative industry players to look beyond ticket sales, urging them to utilize licensing and merchandising as part of a broader IP ecosystem.
Ultimately, the festival is envisioned as a strategic step toward producing collaborative works that achieve global recognition.
IMANDA ZAHWA
Read: Jazz Goes To Campus at TIM Jakarta Next Week: Agenda, Lineup
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