Indonesia–France Deepen Cultural Partnership, Film Industry Takes Center Stage

Jakarta: Indonesia’s Ministry of Culture has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cultural cooperation with France, with the film sector emerging as a key focus alongside museum collaboration and cultural heritage protection.

Culture Minister Fadli Zon said the cooperation, based on a memorandum of understanding signed in May, includes initiatives on film co-production and efforts to expand the reach of Indonesian films among French audiences.

“Both sides are also working to enhance coordination on strategic issues, including cultural heritage protection, digital transformation, and the role of culture in supporting sustainable development,” according to a written statement received on Monday, quoted from Antara, Tuesday 16 December 2025.

Minister Fadli expressed optimism that Indonesia’s rapidly growing film industry, supported by the development of its animation sector, would open wider opportunities for Indonesian–French film co-productions.

Meanwhile, French Culture Minister Rachida Dati said six Indonesian filmmakers are currently participating in a film co-production training program and are expected to continue their training in France next year through the INA France Lab.

According to Dati, bilateral film cooperation will focus on film literacy, the development of a co-production ecosystem, producer incubators, technical training programs, and the distribution of Indonesian films on French platforms and at international film festivals.

She added that the French government has followed up on five key agreements with Indonesia, covering museum cooperation, film collaboration with the Centre National du Cinéma, capacity building with La Fémis, research and collection cooperation between the Indonesian Heritage Agency and the École française d’Extrême-Orient, as well as cultural heritage collaboration with the Musée Guimet.

Cultural ties between the two countries have also been reflected in the organization of a Panorama and Retrospective of Indonesian Cinema at La Cinémathèque française in Paris, as part of the implementation of the joint cultural strategy and a letter of intent on film and audiovisual cooperation.