FSAI 2025 Presents in 10 Cities in Indonesia as a Bridge of Friendship Between Australia and Indonesia Through the Film Industry

Kapanlagi.com - In 2025, the Australia Indonesia Cinema Festival (FSAI) will celebrate its tenth anniversary as a platform for promoting films by filmmakers from both Australia and Indonesia. The festival will return to enhance cultural diplomacy between the two countries from May 15 to June 14.

Ten cities across Indonesia have been designated as destinations for the FSAI 2025 celebration. The complete list of festival locations for its 10th anniversary includes Jakarta, Bandung, Denpasar, Yogyakarta, Semarang, Surabaya, Mataram, Makassar, Manado, and Padang.

"(The festival) is not just about films, but also a celebration of friendship. Film has an incredible power to unite differences and open up dialogue. This is where FSAI plays a role in bringing Australian films that are rarely shown commercially in Indonesian cinemas directly to the big screen," said Rod Brazier, Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, during his speech at the press conference on Friday (09/05/2025).

1. 5 Australian Films and 2 Indonesian Films

FSAI 2025 will soon be held in 10 cities in Indonesia. (credit: Australian Embassy Jakarta)

In organizing its upcoming festival, FSAI will present five Australian films and two feature-length Indonesian films. Not only will there be full length screenings, but several short films from Indonesian participants of the Australia Awards who attended film production training in Australia this year will also be showcased at the event.

FSAI 2025 is also designed to include several workshops on screenwriting, directing, new technologies, and the use of social media for filmmakers. According to Ambassador Rod Brazier, film experts from Australia, such as Dr. Dean Chircop and director Adrian Powers, will come to lead workshops in various cities.

From horror to animation genres, FSAI 2025 will accompany film enthusiasts from both Australia and Indonesia. The complete schedule and ticket bookings can be directed through the official website fsai.id. Below is a list of feature-length and short films that will be screened later along with their genre descriptions.

List of Feature Films

• THE DRY (Australia) - Drama, Thriller
• THE LOST TIGER (Australia) - Animation, Adventure, Family Film
• RUNT (Australia) - Drama
• LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL (Australia) - Horror, Suspense
• A ROYAL IN PARADISE (Australia) - Drama, Comedy
• HEARTBREAK MOTEL (Indonesia) - Drama
• MENCURI RADEN SALEH (Indonesia) - Action, Drama

List of Indonesian Short Films

• MUST-SEE FILM BEFORE YOU DIE - Drama
• RIDE TO NOWHERE - Drama
• RISAU (DO NOT ASK) - Drama, Suspense
• TULAH TUNGU - Drama
• THE SAYING OF THE TOFU VENDOR: WE MUST NOT PRETEND TO KNOW - Drama, Comedy

2. Collaboration Towards Creative Economic Cooperation

FSAI 2025 will soon be held in 10 cities in Indonesia. (credit: Australian Embassy Jakarta)

FSAI is one of the best mediums to strengthen connections among filmmakers, communities, and cultures. The existence of Indonesian and Australian cultures, along with an intriguing film industry, has the potential to foster a strong friendship between the two countries. Moreover, the phenomenon of 'market appetite' that is increasingly strengthening for diverse film genres, narrative approaches, and cinematic experiences from various works of our nation further enhances this possibility.

"Together, our creative industries (Australia and Indonesia) are in a prime position to turn collaboration into future economic cooperation opportunities." said the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia at CGV Pacific Place.

3. FSAI as a Cultural Bridge between Indonesia and Australia

FSAI 2025 will soon be held in 10 cities in Indonesia. (credit: Australian Embassy Jakarta)

Teuku Riefky Harsya stated that the Ministry of Creative Economy is committed to continuously strengthening the film ecosystem and making the creative industry 'The New Engine of Growth' for the national economy. Through a number of master classes provided at FSAI, the festival is expected to become a platform for productive and inclusive creative exchange, so that Indonesia and Australia not only collaborate to create high-quality cinematic works but also remain globally competitive and relevant.

"We (the Ministry of Creative Economy) see a wide and promising space for collaboration between the Indonesian and Australian film industries, whether through creator exchanges, distribution, or exploring mutually beneficial co-production. In this regard, FSAI serves as a strategic meeting point to enhance and sustain collaboration between Indonesia and Australia film industry." added the Minister of Creative Economy.

4. 'Soft Diplomacy' Between Countries

FSAI 2025 will soon be held in 10 cities in Indonesia. (credit: Australian Embassy Jakarta)

Since 2018, the governments of Indonesia and Australia have signed cooperation agreements in the development of the film industry as well as broadcasting. This scheme has strengthened the relationship between the two countries and created the potential for 'soft diplomacy' in society through creative industries that can be developed, including fashion, culinary, and film.

Before conducting official relations between countries, a diplomat must have an understanding of the culture of the prospective friendly country. This process is necessary so that diplomats can perform effectively, allowing the existing bonds of friendship to continue to thrive.

"So, the gateway to becoming interested in a culture is film, poetry, or literature. That is very much an entry point to becoming an expert on neighboring countries, for example, Indonesia." Said Rod Brazier.

5. Potential for Developing Animation Together

FSAI 2025 will soon be held in 10 cities in Indonesia. (credit: Australian Embassy Jakarta)

The success of the film JUMBO, directed by Ryan Adriandhy, is currently a public spotlight. This is because the animated film released in 2025 is one step closer to reaching 9 million viewers on the 40th day of its screening based on observations from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy. This number does not yet include the figures that will be obtained when it is screened in 17 other countries starting next June and potential viewers on digital platforms.

Although the quality of the animation industry in Indonesia is now soaring, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya believes that the skills of filmmakers in Australia are more advanced. Animators in the Land of the Kangaroo have mastered technology, quality, and other skills. This also presents an opportunity for Indonesian and Australian animators to collaborate in developing this field.

"Before co-production can also be continued as FSAI has done, we can scale up how the workshop training between Indonesian animators and Australian animators can be enhanced, and then we can increase the internships of Indonesian animators in Australia or perhaps those in Australia to Indonesia. Besides internships, there might also be learning about culture between countries, and then in the business stage, the film industry can also facilitate meetings between professional practitioners, as well as between investors." said Riefky.

(kpl/rtr)