RRI.CO.ID, Cannes - Indonesian Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, conveyed that Indonesia's presence at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival serves as tangible proof of the country's advancing cinematic landscape. This achievement demonstrates that Indonesia's film ecosystem is growing stronger and is increasingly capable of competing on the international stage.

“The Ministry of Culture is committed to supporting the strengthening of the Indonesian cinematic ecosystem so that it becomes more competitive, inclusive, and capable of playing a pivotal role in the global film arena," he said on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

He explained that one of the concrete steps being continually reinforced by the government is the National Talent Management program in the film sector. This program supports the capacity of young filmmakers, expands international networks, and opens doors to collaboration and funding for Indonesian cinema.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Culture continues to bolster various film support programs through international promotional facilitation. This includes developing industry networks, enhancing human resource capacity in cinema, and strengthening film ecosystems at the regional level.

"We want to ensure that Indonesian film talents have the space to grow, the opportunity to network, and the access to perform on the international stage," he added.

He emphasized that cinema is a vital instrument for Indonesia's cultural diplomacy, as film is uniquely capable of introducing Indonesia's identity, values, and cultural diversity to the global community.

Consequently, the government remains committed to strengthening the national film ecosystem from upstream to downstream. This includes encouraging the creation of more high-quality works rooted in Indonesia's rich cultural heritage.

At the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, Indonesia has dispatched four short films. A notable contribution comes from Minikino Film Week (MFW), which is participating in the prestigious Cinéma de Demain program.

Minikino Director, Edo Wulia conveyed that this involvement represents a strategic opportunity for Indonesian short films. According to him, the event opens avenues to continuously bring the works of Indonesian filmmakers to the world stage.

"This opportunity is undoubtedly invaluable for Minikino to once again bring Indonesian short films onto a globally recognized stage," he remarked.

Indonesia's participation in the short film corner opens up opportunities for national talent to showcase their work and thrive within the international film industry.

Minikino is officially present in the Short Film Corner (SFC) | Rendez-vous Industry – Cinéma de Demain program. This initiative, which translates to Cinema of Tomorrow, has been a staple of the Cannes Festival since 2023. (Annaila Azzahra/EN)