Jakarta World Cinema to Revive First Feature Competition with International Jury

Jakarta World Cinema will revive its First Feature Competition next year, opening it to filmmakers worldwide and judging entries with an international jury. The 2024 edition accepted no submissions, as organizers said assembling an international panel proved too difficult. Festival director Shandy Gasella explained that past contests only used Indonesian judges. For the comeback, the team plans to recruit jury members with strong filmographies from abroad. The festival falls between October’s Jakarta Film Week and the Jogja‑Netpac Asian Film Festival at November’s end. Executive director Frederica, who also leads KlikFilm, says the current lineup draws 80‑90 % of its films from Cannes, Berlin, Venice and Sundance award winners. She adds that the team travels to markets such as Berlin, Toronto and Cannes to select the year’s most important art films for local audiences. This year’s program features 102 theatrical titles, the highest number in its history, within a total of 207 films. Programming director Daniel Irawan said the goal for next year is to expand the lineup and increase audience capacity at the main venue, CGV Grand Indonesia. The festival also runs a short‑film competition. Held in June, it received more than 300 entries from professionals, amateurs and students. All 30 competition titles and 20 non‑competition titles on the shortlist will screen during the event. The best short‑film winner will receive full funding from KlikFilm to produce and distribute a debut feature. Dana Indonesiaraya, a matching fund from the government and the film industry, backs the festival, noted Culture Minister Fadli Zon. After the Jakarta edition closes on Nov 7, the program will travel to Bandung World Cinema and Malang World Cinema from Nov 14‑21. ## Context The revival of the First Feature Competition reflects a broader push by Indonesian festivals to attract international talent and raise local exposure to award‑winning art cinema.