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JAKARTA, 9 October 2026 — The Nanyang Film Festival (NFF) 2026 officially opened today in Jakarta, marking the beginning of its inaugural edition, which runs through 11 October 2026. Featuring 22 films from China and various parts of Asia, NFF aims to strengthen cultural exchange, broaden appreciation for Asian cinema, and create opportunities for collaboration between the film industries of Indonesia, China, and Southeast Asia.
Organized by Nanyang Bridge Media, with FLIX Cinema as its official partner and festival venue, NFF 2026 takes place at two locations: FLIX Cinema PIK Avenue and FLIX Cinema Mall of Indonesia.
The opening night was held at FLIX Cinema PIK Avenue with a screening of Back to Love, directed by Lan Hongchun, who also directed Dear You. The film forms part of the festival programme introducing Indonesian audiences to stories and cultural perspectives from China.
The opening ceremony was attended by diplomatic representatives, Indonesia–China friendship organizations, film industry representatives, and creative industry professionals. Speakers included Rudi Suwito, Secretary-General of the Indonesia–China Friendship Association (PPIT); Yudil Chatim, Education and Culture Attaché at the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing for the 2022–2026 period; Dhanika Martifauzi, Business Development representative of Jakarta Film Commission; Haris Chandra, Senior Permanent Honorary Chairman of the Guangdong Indonesian Association; Chen Baiqi, representative of the Guangdong Film Industry Association; Troy Fridatama, General Manager of Business Development and Public Relations at ASRI; and Wang Siping, Cultural Attaché of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Indonesia.
Film as a Dialogue Between Cultures
In his opening remarks, Wang Siping emphasized the role of cinema as a medium that brings people from different cultural backgrounds closer together.
“Film is a visual art built through the interplay of light and shadow, as well as a dialogue between people,” Wang Siping conveyed in his speech.
He noted that Nanyang Film Festival provides a new platform for cinematic and cultural exchange between Indonesia and China, with the hope of strengthening mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of both countries.
Wang also highlighted the historical significance of Qiaopi—letters sent by overseas Chinese communities to their families in their hometowns, often accompanied by remittances. This tradition represents longing, familial affection, and trust that transcend geographical distances and generations.
Through screenings of Guangdong films, accompanied by a photography exhibition and displays of regional products, Wang expressed his hope that emotional and cultural ties between the Indonesian Chinese community and Guangdong could grow stronger. He also voiced his expectation that more high-quality Chinese films would reach audiences in Indonesia and across Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, Yudil Chatim, Education and Culture Attaché at the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing for the 2022–2026 period, emphasized the universal value of cinema and the importance of close collaboration between young people and filmmakers from both countries.
“Film is a medium of communication that transcends geographical boundaries. It breaks down barriers of language, crosses national borders, and speaks directly to our shared humanity. Through artistic exchange, creative industry collaboration, and film festivals such as Nanyang Film Festival, we are weaving deeper mutual understanding and empathy between nations,” said Yudil Chatim.
He also expressed the education and cultural sector’s commitment to continuing to support collaborative creative initiatives, providing Indonesian filmmakers with strategic platforms to bring stories from the Indonesian archipelago to Chinese and international audiences.
Special Highlight: The Indonesian Premiere of Boundless Love
One of the most anticipated highlights of Nanyang Film Festival 2026 is the screening of Boundless Love. The screening marks the film’s first commercial theatrical screening and first festival screening in Indonesia.
Telling a warm and moving love story between two people from different countries, languages, and cultural backgrounds, the film serves as a powerful representation of the emotional connections and cross-cultural cooperation between Indonesia and China.
The screening will also feature the film’s cast and production team in person, who will meet and greet audiences and film enthusiasts during the festival’s closing programme. Their participation underscores NFF’s commitment to creating opportunities for direct engagement among creators, industry professionals, and audiences.
Screening of the China–South Korea Documentary 5
Another major programme attracting attention at NFF 2026 is the screening of 5, a documentary co-produced by China and South Korea.
The film focuses on the stories of the last five surviving South Korean victims of Japan’s wartime military “comfort women” system, documenting their historical testimonies and providing a space for their voices to be heard directly.
The history and suffering associated with the Jugun Ianfu system are not confined to a single country. During World War II, women across Asia—including China, Korea, the Philippines, and Indonesia during the Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945—were also among its victims.
Through the screening of 5, Nanyang Film Festival hopes to pay solemn tribute to the survivors while opening constructive dialogue on historical memory and peace.
China Animation Night: Where Animation Meets AI Innovation
Beyond cultural exchange through film, Nanyang Film Festival 2026 also explored the intersection of animation, technology, and the future of creative storytelling through China Animation Night.
As the festival’s official AI partner, Alibaba Cloud Indonesia brings a technology dimension to NFF’s broader vision of connecting creative industries across borders. This partnership reflects the growing opportunity to explore how artificial intelligence can support the development, production, and international reach of creative content.
Chinese animation offers a compelling starting point for this conversation, combining distinctive visual traditions, imaginative storytelling, and evolving production techniques. As AI continues to create new possibilities for the film and animation industries, the question is no longer simply what technology can do, but how creators can use it to tell more engaging stories and reach new audiences.
Through China Animation Night and its wider focus on creative collaboration, NFF aims to encourage conversations about the relationship between storytelling, emerging technologies, and cross-border opportunities in Asia’s creative economy.
How will AI reshape the future of animation — and what new opportunities could this create for collaboration between China and Southeast Asia?
Creating a Meeting Ground for Asian Stories and Talent
For Nanyang Bridge Media, Nanyang Film Festival is designed to be more than a series of film screenings. It aims to serve as a platform connecting stories, talent, and opportunities for cross-border collaboration.
Nova Tentunata of Nanyang Film Festival explained that the festival’s vision is to bring the Indonesian and Chinese film industries closer together through the exchange of stories and cultural experiences.
“For us, Nanyang Film Festival is not simply about bringing films from one country to audiences in another. We want to create a meeting ground where stories from China and Southeast Asia can be discovered, understood, and appreciated by one another. We believe that when a film can move audiences from different cultural backgrounds, it opens opportunities to build closer relationships, foster creative collaboration, and establish long-term partnerships between film industries across borders,” said Nova Tentunata.
Through this approach, NFF seeks to bring filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences together within an ecosystem that encourages the exchange of ideas, the discovery of cinematic works, and the development of creative partnerships.
Collaboration to Strengthen Friendship Through Cinema
Support from industry partners plays an important role in enhancing the festival experience and expanding access to Asian cinema for Indonesian audiences.
Troy Fridatama, General Manager of Business Development and Public Relations at ASRI, expressed his hope that the festival would broaden audiences’ appreciation of the films and cultures of both countries.
“Through this festival, we hope audiences will not only enjoy outstanding films and get to know the filmmakers behind them, but also develop a deeper appreciation for the richness of our cultures and the close ties between Indonesia and China. May this festival mark the beginning of meaningful, long-term collaboration that continues to grow, while strengthening the friendship between our two countries through the power of cinema,” said Troy Fridatama.
As the festival’s official partner and venue provider, FLIX Cinema offers audiences the opportunity to experience a diverse selection of Asian cinema through screenings at PIK Avenue and Mall of Indonesia. This collaboration reflects the importance of synergy between festival organizers, cinema partners, and the broader creative ecosystem in expanding access to films from different countries.
Jakarta as a Meeting Point for Asian Cinema
Featuring 22 films from China and various parts of Asia, Nanyang Film Festival 2026 presents a diverse selection of stories and genres, ranging from drama and documentary to animation, fantasy, horror, and comedy.
The festival runs from 9–11 October 2026 at FLIX Cinema PIK Avenue and FLIX Cinema Mall of Indonesia. Through film screenings and cross-cultural collaboration, NFF aims to expand opportunities for Asian cinema to reach Indonesian audiences while fostering professional connections and sustainable creative partnerships.
With its inaugural edition, Nanyang Film Festival reaffirms its vision of using cinema as a bridge of friendship, bringing diverse perspectives together, and connecting communities through stories that transcend cultural and geographical boundaries.
About Nanyang Film Festival
Nanyang Film Festival (NFF) is a Jakarta-based film platform established by Nanyang Bridge Media to promote cultural dialogue and creative exchange between China and Southeast Asia through cinema. With the support of FLIX Cinema, Jakarta Film Commission, Jakarta Experience Board, Guangdong Film Industry Association, CGTN, and the Indonesia–China Friendship Association, NFF presents selected works from across Asia and brings together filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences through film screenings and cross-cultural collaborations.
The festival aims to serve as a bridge for emerging Asian voices while creating opportunities for cross-border collaboration within the film industry.
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