Antara News·Indonesia·Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at 03:16 PM UTC

Cultural diversity key asset for Indonesian film industry: Ministry

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Tri Ameliya, Uyu Liman

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s rich cultures, traditions, and scenic landscapes serve as invaluable assets to drive the domestic film industry, according to the Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions.

Director General for the Acceleration of Development in Underdeveloped Regions at the ministry Samsul Widodo said that the country’s vast archipelago, ethnic variety, and linguistic diversity offer boundless storytelling possibilities rooted in local identity.

"We have seen major box-office hits deliver tangible economic benefits," Widodo said during the virtual launch of the Village Film Festival on Tuesday.

"For instance, 'Laskar Pelangi' (The Rainbow Troops), it was able to spur the local economy. Before the film, very few people knew about Belitung, but afterward, tourists flocked to the island," he explained.

He noted that natural beauty, cultural diversity, and unique traditions across various regions in Indonesia can serve as potential inspirations for local films.

Widodo emphasized that authentic local narratives hold tremendous economic potential, bolstered by surging domestic movie theater attendance.

National cinema admissions jumped from 58 million in 2022 to 82 million in 2024, making the film sector the second-largest contributor to the creative economy's gross domestic product (GDP), behind only the music industry.

"This demonstrates that the creative economy can serve as a genuine engine of economic growth," he remarked, expressing hope that creative sectors in rural areas will continue to be nurtured to support regional economic development.

The ministry has opened submissions for the Village Film Festival, with registration running from November 10 to December 26, 2026. The festival is part of a program leading up to the commemoration of National Village Day on January 15, 2027.

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