Netanya Yemima, whose short film “The Most Handsome Fish on Earth” premiered at the 20th Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival last year, has her feature directorial debut “To My Dearest, My Dear…” selected for the JAFF Future Project, a time-travel drama about a dying father who leaps into the future to meet the daughter he’ll never live to see.
The Indonesia production, directed by Yemima and produced by Bela Nabila and Bayu Arief, is among 10 Asia-Pacific titles selected for the JAFF Future Project at this year’s JAFF Market in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The project previously participated in Jakarta Film Week Producers Lab 2024 and Platform Busan 2025.
“To My Dearest, My Dear…” follows Adam, a soon-to-be father diagnosed with cancer in 2008 who braces for the end. Until one day, he discovers a way to travel through time. Seizing the chance, he leaps into the future to meet Nadia, the daughter he never lived to see.
Adam keeps traveling through time to make sure his wife Marsha and Nadia live the future he once dreamed of — even without him in it. But when he visits Nadia at 16, he finds their bond broken and Marsha on the verge of marrying someone new. Desperate to understand what went wrong, Adam grows closer to Nadia. Together, they embark on a whirlwind mission to disrupt Marsha’s new relationship while discovering the fragile, exciting and unexpected bond between a father and daughter who were never meant to meet.
“When Bela approached me with the idea for ‘To My Dearest, My Dear…’, I immediately fell in love with it,” Yemima says. “I think it’s a father–daughter story that can be told in a very unique and compelling way. We had lengthy discussions after that, sharing our feelings and our personal relationships with our dads. As we developed the story, we realized that our different backgrounds could enrich it even more and make it resonate universally.”
What started as an exploration of time travel and a father-daughter relationship has evolved into something deeply personal. “It’s a story I simply couldn’t resist,” she says.
The director wants to explore the theme of unfailing love. “I reflected a lot on how time and life move so fast. It’s a little frightening that as time flies, nothing stays the same,” Yemima says. “But love, love might stay, and that’s beautiful. Through this film, I want to talk about the theme of unfailing love. It’s about a love that endures even when life, illness, or time itself pulls people apart. A love that gives strength, just as it does for our main character Adam, whose love for his family transcends life and death.”
Producer Nabila, who also co-wrote the screenplay, emphasized the personal resonance of the project. “Our feature film debut carries deep sentimental value for both Netanya and me, not only as creators, but as daughters,” she says. “Even though Netanya and I come from very different father–daughter dynamics, that contrast actually became an advantage. It opened up a richer perspective in shaping Adam and Nadia, allowing us to build their relationship with more nuance, empathy, and emotional truth.”
This marks the sixth collaboration between Yemima and Nabila. “In our previous short film, ‘The Most Handsome Fish on Earth,’ her craftsmanship really shone,” Nabila says. “She has the ability to balance something serious with a lighthearted touch, while still delivering an emotional experience that resonates with audiences.”
Producer Arief sees the film as a refreshing alternative in the Indonesian market. “In today’s Indonesian market, where horror films dominate, a heartfelt story like this would offer a genuinely refreshing alternative for audiences,” he says. “With the growing diversity of genres in Indonesian cinema especially films that incorporate a hint of fantasy and a thoughtful exploration of the genre, I believe our film can enter this expanding segment of the industry and contribute to the exploration of new directions in storytelling.”
At JAFF Market, the team hopes to connect with potential investors, Indonesian production companies and international distributors. “JAFF Future Project gives us the kind of space we’ve been looking for: a place where potential investors, Indonesian production companies, and even international distributors can really engage with the project,” Nabila says. “We’re hoping they’ll feel what we feel, and believe in the story as much as we do.”
Yemima’s previous short films include “Sunat Racing,” funded by Jakarta Film Week, and “Rumah Kuta Kita,” which won best film at Semester Pendek 2021. “The Most Handsome Fish on Earth” was developed at LOCK x Full Circle Lab 2023 and received funding from Layar Indonesiana.
JAFF Future Project functions as both a development platform and co-production hub, designed to advance independent works toward completion and distribution. The initiative runs Nov. 29-Dec. 1 at the Jogja Expo Center in Yogyakarta as part of the broader 20th-anniversary celebration of the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival.
variety.com
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