KBRN, Jakarta: The Iran & Indonesia Movie Week 2025 is being held from February 21 to 25, 2025, at various locations across Indonesia as part of the celebration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between Iran and Indonesia.

Indonesian Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, said that the Iran & Indonesia Movie Week 2025 film festival is a testament to the enduring cultural exchange between the two countries, which has been ongoing since the 1970s.

"For centuries, the influence of Persian literature, philosophy, and science has reached the archipelago, shaping our literary arts traditions. Today, that cultural exchange heritage evolves into a new form through the power of film," Minister Fadli said during the Opening Ceremony of Iran & Indonesia Movie Week 2025 at the National Library in Jakarta on Friday, February 21, 2025, reported by antaranews.com.

He highlighted that film is an essential platform, particularly as part of soft power expression. Through film, audiences see acting and various cultural art expressions, including dance, song, music, literature, and cuisine.

The film festival's significance is enhanced because it coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Iran.

"This also underscores our shared vision in developing the arts, preserving cultural heritage, academic exchange, and the creative industries. This festival embodies that commitment by providing a platform for filmmakers and storytellers from both countries to connect and contribute to the global cultural landscape and diversity," Fadli said.

The Minister further hoped that Iran & Indonesia Movie Week 2025 would also serve as momentum for accepting Indonesian films abroad, just as films from other countries are welcomed domestically.

This aligns with the robust growth of the Indonesian film industry, which achieved 81 million viewers in 2024.

The government projects the film industry to grow by 6.13 percent by 2027, contributing approximately USD 10,296 billion to the national GDP.

"Therefore, I believe that the Iran & Indonesia Film Festival can also serve as an essential platform for creative collaboration, encouraging filmmakers from both countries to exchange ideas and explore new opportunities in collaboration and production," he added.

The Iran-Indonesia Film Festival is a collaborative project between the Iranian Embassy in Indonesia and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia.

Eight films from Iran and Indonesia will be screened until the end of February at various universities and schools in several cities, including Yogyakarta, Palembang, Banten, Makassar, and Bandung.

One of the most anticipated films is In the Embrace of a Tree by Babak Lotfi Khajeh Pasha, which has been submitted for consideration in the 2025 Academy Awards. The film tells the story of a child's life shattered by their parents' impending divorce. ***