RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Marking 75 years of diplomatic relations, Indonesia is using the Asia Pacific Film Festival (APFF) 2026 in Bern, Switzerland, held from February 9-26, 2026, to strengthen cultural ties with Switzerland through cinema.

The festival, officially opened on Monday, February 9, and attended by ambassadors and representatives from Asia-Pacific countries, serves as a platform to strengthen intercultural understanding between the region and Switzerland.

In his remarks, Indonesian Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein Ngurah Swajaya said APFF plays an important role in fostering solidarity and mutual respect among nations.

“Film is not merely entertainment, but also a medium of reflection that carries humanitarian values and other shared values that can be understood and felt together,” Ambassador Ngurah said, according to a press release from the Indonesian Embassy in Bern received on Wednesday, February 11, as quoted by Antara.

He added that Indonesia’s participation in APFF reinforces bilateral ties that have been built over seven decades based on mutual trust, innovation, and partnership.

According to Ngurah, cultural exchange through arts and film is a key pillar in strengthening people-to-people relations beyond formal diplomacy, serving as a living and relevant bridge of friendship.

Bern Mayor Marieke Kruit, speaking at the same event, said the festival provides a strategic platform to bridge intercultural understanding between Asia-Pacific countries and Switzerland.

She emphasized that film is a universal language capable of transcending cultural, traditional, and national boundaries.

As part of the opening ceremony, guests were invited to play Indonesia’s traditional musical instrument, the angklung, symbolizing harmony and cross-cultural unity.

The Indonesian film “SORE: Istri dari Masa Depan” directed by Yandy Laurens opened the festival and drew 330 viewers. The film was selected for its quality, having earned 13 nominations and 10 awards, as well as for its universal storyline that resonates across cultures.

APFF 2026 features selected films from Indonesia, Australia, Pacific countries, Vietnam, South Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, India, Pakistan, and Japan, presenting diverse stories ranging from reflections on life and contemporary issues to narratives on history, identity, and culture. ***