Four Indonesian Filmmakers Gain Recognition with Academy Membership
- 08 Jul 2026 21:16 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Key Points
- Four Indonesian filmmakers, who are Amelia Hapsari, Kamila Andini, Retno Ratih Damayanti, and Yulia Evina Bhara, have officially joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
- This membership recognizes their contributions and track record in the national and international film industry.
- Their inclusion in the Academy is expected to open up greater opportunities for Indonesian filmmakers to create and collaborate globally.
RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Four Indonesian filmmakers have officially joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the organization that presents the annual Oscars. They are Amelia Hapsari, Kamila Andini, Retno Ratih Damayanti, and Yulia Evina Bhara.
The announcement was posted on the Indonesian Film Agency’s (BPI) Instagram account, @bpi_indonesiafimagency, on Wednesday, 8 July 2026. Their membership recognizes their contributions to the film industry and highlights the growing presence of Indonesian filmmakers on the global cinema stage.
Amelia Hapsari is known as a director and producer of documentary films with extensive experience across multiple fields. She previously worked as a radio journalist in Beijing and led a nonprofit production house in Timor-Leste.
One documentary she produced, Rising from Silence (2016), won the Best Short Documentary Piala Citra at the 2018 Indonesian Film Festival (FFI). Amelia was also the first Indonesian filmmaker invited to join the Academy in 2020.
Kamila Andini has long been recognized for films that attracted international attention. The director’s works include Laut Bercermin (The Mirror Never Lies); Sekala Niskala (The Seen and Unseen); Yuni; Before, Now and Then; and the series Gadis Kretek.
Yuni won the Platform Prize at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival. Kamila is also noted for films that often foreground female perspectives.
“In 2025, (Kamila Andini) became the first Indonesian feature film director invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (The Academy),” BPI said in its official Instagram post on Wednesday.
Retno Ratih Damayanti is the first Indonesian costume designer invited to join the Academy in 2026. Her name is associated with major Indonesian films such as Ayat-Ayat Cinta, Habibie & Ainun, Soegija, Bumi Manusia, and Kucumbu Tubuh Indahku.
Retno holds the record for the most Best Costume Design Piala Citra awards, with six wins and 13 nominations. She has also been nominated for Best Makeup at the Indonesian Film Festival.
Yulia Evina Bhara rounds out this year’s list of Indonesian Academy members. The producer is known for films including Istirahatlah Kata-Kata (Rest Your Head), Hiruk Pikuk Si Al Kisah (The Noisy Life of Al Kisah), Autobiography, Tiger Stripes, and Tale of the Land.
As producer of Tiger Stripes, Yulia shared the Critics’ Week Grand Prize at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. In the same year, she was named to Variety 500, a list of the most influential figures in global entertainment.
The inclusion of these four names in the Academy marks a significant milestone for Indonesian cinema. BPI expressed hope that the move will open doors for more Indonesian talent to create and collaborate internationally. (Annaila Azzahra-EN)
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