Palme d’Or Winner ‘Fjord’ to Open Jakarta World Cinema as Festival Spreads Across Indonesia (EXCLUSIVE)

Cristian Mungiu’s “Fjord,” which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes this year, will open Jakarta World Cinema, the Indonesian festival said Thursday as it revealed a 2026 program that also includes the top prize winners from Venice and Berlin.

The Indonesian premiere of Thai filmmaker Banjong Pisanthanakun’s “Inherit” will close the event.

The lineup draws on 69 countries. Of the 207 titles, 120 have won awards at major festivals. Asian cinema accounts for 96 films, women directed 41, and 20 are official entries for the international feature category at the 99th Academy Awards.

May el-Toukhy’s “Woman Unknown,” which took the Golden Lion at Venice, will screen alongside Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor’s “NAZA,” winner of the Venice Special Jury Prize. The Cannes contingent beyond “Fjord” includes Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Grand Prix winner “Minotaur” and Hamaguchi Ryusuke’s “All of a Sudden,” which earned a best actress prize on the Croisette. Jesse Eisenberg’s new film as director, “The Debut,” is also on the slate.

Ilker Çatak’s “Yellow Letters,” which took the Berlinale’s top prize, the Golden Bear, has been booked for the festival’s online program.

Tudor Vladimir Panduru, cinematographer on “Fjord,” will attend the festival and lead a masterclass for local filmmakers and film fans.

“Securing 120 award-winning titles, but having the Golden Bear, the Palme d’Or, and the Golden Lion winners all in our lineup in a single year is a monumental milestone for us,” said festival director Shandy Gasella. “For Indonesian cinephiles, this lineup is a rare and vital passport to experience the absolute heartbeat of contemporary world cinema.”

This year marks the first time the event has ventured outside the capital. Its main eight-day run will take place at CGV Grand Indonesia from Oct. 31–Nov. 7. Eight-day editions will then run in parallel at CGV Paris Van Java in Bandung and Cinepolis Malang Town Square in Malang from Nov. 14–21. Viewers anywhere in the country can also stream an online selection through KlikFilm from Oct. 31–Nov. 21.

“Our vision for Jakarta World Cinema has always been to bridge the gap between world-class storytelling and Indonesian audiences, while positioning Jakarta as a vital cultural hub in the region,” said Frederica, the festival’s executive director. “Our mission is to cultivate an inclusive space where cinematic excellence transcends borders.”