Indonesia’s film pipeline is surging into 2026 with a slate that spans prestige literary adaptations, bold auteur dramas, family tentpoles, genre breakouts and long-awaited franchise extensions. Talent from across the region anchor an eclectic lineup backed by a widening network of producers and international partners.
Chosen by Variety in conjunction with the JAFF Market, this year’s hot picks, presented alphabetically, spotlight 12 Indonesian titles set to define the country’s 2026 slate.
Director: Hanung Bramantyo
Producer: Manoj Punjabi
Production Company: MD Pictures
Cast: Jared Ali, Humaira Jahra, Andri Mashadi, Faradina Mufti, Slamet Rahardjo, Oki Rengga, Muhadkly Acho, Reza Nagin, Benidictus, Dodit Mulyanto, Lolox, Varen Arianda, RR Astagina Jyoti
A poverty-stricken brother and sister navigate daily life on the outskirts of Semarang after a single pair of shoes goes missing, triggering a cycle of shame, secrecy and resilience. A remake of Majid Majidi’s iconic Iranian classic, the Indonesian version retains the emotional core of siblings sharing a single pair of shoes in shifts to avoid disappointing their parents, while a third-place prize in a local race becomes the boy’s desperate hope of making things right. A grounded, emotional family drama from one of Indonesia’s most commercially trusted directors.
Dance of the Damned (Badut Gendong)
Director: Charles Gozali
Producer: Linda Gozali
Production Companies: Magma Entertainment, Komet Productions
Cast: Marthino Lio, Dayinta Melira, Clara Bernadeth, Derby Romero, Iskak Khivano, Barry Prima
Expanding the “Qodrat” universe, this horror entry follows two street performers whose brutal tragedy unleashes a malevolent presence rooted in ritual, folklore and revenge. With Charles Gozali at the helm and a seasoned ensemble, the film positions itself as the next major scare franchise from Indonesia’s ever-expanding supernatural canon.
Four Seasons in Java (Empat Musim Pertiwi)
Director: Kamila Andini
Producer: Ifa Isfansyah
Production Companies: Forka Films, Miles Films, Imajinari, Jagartha, Trinity, Team Up, Julie Estelle & Navvaros, Storm Films (Norway), Lemming Films (Netherlands), One Two Films (Germany), Ici Et La (France), Giraffe Pictures (Singapore), PFX (Poland), Brand Film, Chada Entertainment (Thailand)
Cast: Putri Marino, Arya Saloka, Christine Hakim, Hana Pitrashata Malasan
A woman newly released from prison returns to her village and finds solidarity among the marginalized as she attempts to rebuild her life. Andini, coming off a run of global festival successes, crafts a story about home, forgiveness and the slow, communal reshaping of identity. The extensive international co-production footprint confirms the film’s global ambitions.
Garuda: Dare to Dream (Garuda di Dadaku)
Director: Ronny Gani
Producers: Shanty Harmayn, Tanya Yuson, Aoura Lovenson
Production Companies: KAWI Animation, BASE Entertainment, Robot Playground Media
Putra, a 13-year-old boy with asthma, dreams of making Indonesia’s national soccer squad but is mocked at trials by Aldo, who ridicules his weak body and repeated failures. After collapsing during a confrontation on the pitch, he awakens in another realm and meets Gaga — a glowing Garuda spirit who gifts him a mystical jersey that grants supernatural speed and skill. On a magical field, he even duels national team captain Bayu before being pulled back and warned that the jersey’s power belongs only to those worthy of it. Balancing magic with determination, Putra must now rise on his own merit. The animated–live-action hybrid is positioned as a major family franchise starter.
Ghost in the Cell
Director: Joko Anwar
Producer: Tia Hasibuan
Production Companies: Come and See Pictures, Rapi Films, Barunson E&A (Korea), Legacy Pictures
Cast: Abimana Aryasatya, Bront Palarae, Danang Suryonegoro, Endy Arfian, Lukman Sardi, Mike Lucock, Yoga Pratama, Morgan Oey, Aming, Kiki Narendra, Rio Dewanto, Tora Sudiro, Almanzo Konoralma, Haydar Salishz, Arswendy Bening Swara, Dewa Dayana, Faiz Vishal, Jaisal Tanjung, Ho Yuhang, Magistus Miftah
Set inside Labuan Angsana — one of Indonesia’s most notorious prisons — Joko Anwar’s latest is a horror-comedy. Rival gangs and abusive guards already make survival a waking nightmare, but when an unseen force begins slaughtering inmates one by one, the prison spirals into chaos. Killers, thieves and conmen must do the unthinkable: work together to stay alive. The film aims to blend claustrophobic tension with dark humor. Backed by Barunson E&A, the Korean studio behind “Parasite,” the project marks one of the most significant Indonesia–Korea collaborations to date.
The Last Flight (Penerbangan Terakhir)
Director: Benni Setiawan
Producer: Tony Ramesh
Production Company: Visual Media Studio
Cast: Jerome Kurnia, Nadya Arina, Aghniny Haque
The glossy aviation thriller centers on a charismatic pilot whose manipulative relationships with multiple flight attendants unravel into a scandal at 30,000 feet. Combining romance, psychological drama and workplace danger, the film exposes the toxic power dynamics hidden behind the glamour of commercial aviation.
Director: Ryan Adriandhy
Producers: Anggia Kharisma, Novia Puspa Sari
Production Company: Visinema
Cast: Luisa Adreena, Freya Mikhayla, Azamy Syauqi, Ibrahim Arsenio, Irma Rihi, Junior Liem, Ira Wibowo, Melissa Karim
From the beloved Surabaya-set books, “Na Willa” follows a six-year-old girl whose once-perfect little world shifts when her friends begin school and an accident shakes her confidence. Willa’s attempt to reclaim routine leads her to a school that stifles her curiosity — forcing her to choose between conformity and her own voice. It’s the next feature from Ryan Adriandhy, director of “Jumbo,” Indonesia’s biggest box office hit of all time.
Operation: Pesta Pora (Operasi Pesta Pora)
Director: Edy Khemod
Producers: Ernest Prakasa, Dipa Andika, Iqbaal Ramadhan, James Erlangga
Production Companies: Imajinari, Angin Segar, Boss Creator
Cast: Iqbaal Ramadhan, Kristo Immanuel, Zulfa Maharani, Kawai Labiba
A team of small-time pickpockets plans a last big score at Indonesia’s biggest music festival, Pestapora. The comic heist film pairs Khemod’s kinetic sensibility with Prakasa’s commercial instincts, with rising star Iqbaal Ramadhan fronting an ensemble poised for mainstream breakout.
Rainbow in Mars (Pelangi di Mars)
Director: Upie Guava
Producer: Dendi Reynando
Production Companies: Mahakarya Pictures, MBK, Guava Film, DossGuavaXR Studio, PFN
Cast: Messi Gusti, Lutesha, Rio Dewanto, Livy Renata, Myesha Lin Adeeva
Set in 2100, this live-action/CG hybrid follows Pelangi — the first human born on Mars — who teams up with malfunctioning robot companions to find a rare mineral that might save Earth’s water crisis and reunite her with her father. With virtual production, robotics-driven characters and a direct homage to Pratiwi Soedarmono — Indonesia’s first female astronaut candidate — through the character Ibu Pelangi, the film aims to redefine the local family-adventure space.
The Sea Speaks His Name (Laut Bercerita)
Director: Yosep Anggi Noen
Producer: Gita Fara
Production Companies: PAL8 Pictures, Visual Media Studio, Jagartha, Lynx Films, Brandlink
Cast: Reza Rahadian, Yunita Siregar, Dian Sastrowardoyo, Eva Celia, Christine Hakim, Arswendy Beningswara
Adapted from Leila S. Chudori’s best-selling novel, the political drama spans two parallel perspectives: an idealistic student activist swept into a clandestine resistance movement in the 1990s, and his sister years later, seeking answers after his disappearance. Anggi Noen blends poetry, memory and political grief in a story that confronts a pivotal chapter of Indonesian history still reverberating today. The director, whose films have been recognized at Locarno, adapts one of Indonesia’s most beloved literary works into what aims to be a sweeping, politically resonant screen drama.
Sleep No More (Monster Pabrik Rambut)
Director: Edwin
Producers: Meiske Taurisia, Muhammad Zaidy
Production Companies: Palari Films, Beacon Film, Giraffe Pictures (Singapore), Hassaku Labs, In Good Company, Apsara Films
Cast: Rachel Amanda, Lutesha, Iqbaal Ramadhan, Sal Priadi, Luqman Kev, Didik Nini Thowok
A surreal parable about a world so obsessed with productivity that humans surrender even their sleep, allowing a shadowy, hair-covered entity to take over their exhausted bodies. Edwin’s return to genre-bending arthouse promises a hallucinatory critique of modern labor culture.
Suzanna Witchcraft (Suzzanna: Santet Dosa di Atas Dosa)
Director: Azhar Kinoi Lubis
Producer: Sunil Soraya
Production Company: Soraya Intercine Films
Cast: Luna Maya, Reza Rahadian, Clift Sangra, Iwa K, Andy/RIF, Adi Bing Slamet, Ence Bagus, Azis Gagap, Nai Djenar Maisa Ayu, Nunung, El Manik, Budi Bima
A reimagining of Indonesian horror icon Suzanna, the film follows a woman cursed by a ruthless village leader and driven to master dark sorcery in pursuit of vengeance. But her path grows complicated when she finds unexpected love, forcing a choice between retribution and redemption. A high-profile revival of one of Indonesia’s most enduring supernatural legends.
variety.com
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