This dream is not impossible, especially since the film industry has become a significant driver of the creative economy in Jakarta.
According to the 2024 Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) data for Jakarta’s Creative Economy, the film, animation, and video sub-sectors grew by 6.22 percent, surpassing the overall Jakarta GRDP growth of 5.04 percent.
The optimism to become a city of cinema is supported by 141 production houses, 80 percent of which are based in the city.
These production houses have submitted 42,331 film titles to the Film Censorship Institute, with 285 having passed the censorship process.
Steps to realize a culturally rich and artistically vibrant cinema city include simplifying permits and addressing other needs.
Head of Jakarta’s Tourism and Creative Economy Office, Andhika Permata, said they are ready to facilitate filmmakers shooting activities through the “Filming in Jakarta” platform.
Facilities provided include assets owned by Jakarta-owned enterprises (BUMD), such as PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol and Jakarta Experience Board (JxB).
The goal is not only to establish Jakarta as a shooting location but also to showcase the city as a conducive ecosystem for the overall growth of the industry.
Jakarta has long been a backdrop for films depicting the city’s life, dynamics, and development since the era of state film production.
It is reflected in classics like "Njai Dasima", "Si Doel Anak Sekolahan", "Janji Joni", and modern films with national and international acclaims.
To further attract filmmakers, the Jakarta Film Commission has been initiated as a one-stop service (OSS) agency.
The agency will handle permits, maintain a database of shooting locations, connect filmmakers with local talents, and promote Jakarta as a prime film production destination.
This model is similar to those in global cities like Busan, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and some cities in the Netherlands.
Support also comes from film festivals, as noted by Jakarta’s Deputy Governor Rano Karno during the Cannes Film Festival in France, May 2025.
The Jakarta Film Commission is said to be a major part of Jakarta’s Medium-Term Regional Development Plan (RPJMD) because the film sector is a priority alongside other infrastructure developments.
Furthermore, the Jakarta provincial government continues strengthening collaborations with various parties to build Jakarta’s potential as a cinema city.
One of the efforts is activating the Kota Tua or the Old Town area as a creative economy hub, which requires support from the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Creative Economy, and other stakeholders.
This collaboration has been welcomed by the Ministry of Creative Economy, which supports activities from 2025 to 2027 ahead of Jakarta’s 500 years in coloring Indonesia’s identity.
Currently, Jakarta is still in the process of securing the title of cinema city. The provincial government, together with the Indonesian National Commission for UNESCO, is completing documentation to designate Jakarta as a UNESCO Creative City in the cinema category.
Optimism
The vision of Jakarta as a cinema city has received positive responses from Indonesian filmmakers, including film producer Anggia Kharisma from Visinema Studios.
According to her, Jakarta becoming a cinema city means making film part of the city’s DNA, not just entertainment but also a driver of national identity, the city’s identity, and the creative economy.
Achieving this goal will not be easy but is certainly possible. The Jakarta Film Commission is needed, she said, emphasizing that all industry players should work together in one hub for all film-related activities.
Kharisma referred this hub as the Jakarta Film Office, which would also expand film distribution and make Jakarta a hub for film festivals.
She also mentioned the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France, the world’s oldest animation festival held in a town with scenic mountain and a lake.
Jakarta, with its cityscape and surrounding islands including the Seribu Islands, has potential to host a variety of film genres and festivals.
The question is whether this potential can be realized. “Actually, Jakarta and even Indonesia’s youth are very creative,” she said.
Jakarta must be ready to be a friendly, accessible city for film festivals with reasonable requirements for the film industry.
She shared her own experiences with long permit processes caused by regulatory differences between local government agencies and BUMDs in Jakarta, hoping such hurdles will not recur.
More than that, other facilities like accommodation, hotels, food and beverage, and health services must be fully prepared.
Currently, Jakarta boasts 448 star-rated hotels with over 50 thousand rooms, integrated transportation, and 6,493 restaurants supporting the city as Indonesia’s center for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE).
These potentials strongly support Jakarta’s goal to become a cinema city, possibly just one or two steps away. The awaited good news from UNESCO is still pending.
Editor: Primayanti
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
