Speaking at the 2025 JAFF Market press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday, Deputy Minister of Culture Giring Ganesha said the benefits of the "Country of Honor" title are tangible.
"This 'Country of Honor' status will not only provide invaluable promotional highlights for Indonesian films but also open up exclusive opportunities for project presentations, meetings with global producers, investors, and distributors, and promote new talents in the film industry," he said.
According to Ganesha, countries that have earlier received the honor—India (2022), Spain (2023), and Switzerland (2024)—have successfully utilized the platform to strengthen their cinema's presence in the international market, invite collaboration, and attract investment.
The "Country of Honor" push is in line with his ministry's target to support the advancement of culture, including national films, under a program entitled Dana Indonesiana 2025.
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Ganesha said Indonesia has made impressive inroads into the global film industry.
"At the global level, our achievement grew 11 percent last year for the box office, while China and the United States had a fall off. France only grew 1 percent as well," he informed.
He said that the ministry will provide further information regarding Indonesia's preparations to be named the "Country of Honor" at a press conference on the results of the Marché du Film (MdF) Cannes 2025.
"We are still waiting for Yulia Evina Bhara to return to Indonesia after becoming a judge at the Cannes Film Festival," he added.
The ministry will ask Bhara to share her experience, along with Ahmad Mahendra, director general of cultural development, utilization, and fostering, who will also share the Marché du Film results, Ganesha informed.
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Translator: Abdu Faisal, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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