JAFF Market 2025 Announces Award Winners and $7.8 Million Economic Impact

The JAFF Market 2025 in Indonesia wrapped up with the distribution of industry awards and development grants, providing crucial support for local film projects through funding, technical assistance, and access to global markets. Sponsored by Amar Bank, the three-day event concluded with 10 awards presented during the closing ceremony. Assistance included travel grants to international festivals and production equipment packages worth around $30,000.

The project Ghost Island earned multiple accolades, receiving $10,000 in sound design post-production from Kongchak Studio and $15,000 in editing and color grading services from Prodigihouse Ecosystem, alongside a $3,000 development grant from Visinema. A Life Full of Holes also achieved several awards, including production equipment from Brandlink Indonesia, support to attend the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum 2026 via MTN International and YCCI, and a $4,000 development grant from The United Team of Art.

The Motion Picture Association granted travel and accommodation for two producers to participate in the Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2026, recognizing Our Son and My Mother. Our Son additionally received $9,000 for color grading from Prodigihouse Ecosystem. Rose Pandanwangi benefited from $15,000 worth of color grading and mastering services from White Light, while MTN International facilitated Evil Underground at the Rotterdam Lab 2026. To My Dearest, My Dear obtained both production equipment support from Brandlink Indonesia and a development grant from Visinema.

Through the JAFF Content Market, created in collaboration with the Ministry of Creative Economy and Asia Content Film Market, two intellectual properties were chosen for ACFM 2026: Elang Hitam and World Without Sleep.

The second edition of JAFF Market featured 116 exhibitors representing 122 companies, 1,431 accredited industry participants, and over 7,784 visitors from 14 countries. The event facilitated 2,433 one-on-one meetings for pitches and business discussions.

JAFF Market is expanding not just in scale but in purpose, connecting ideas to investment, talent to opportunity, and Indonesia to the global stage, said Linda Gozali, market director. She added that $2.5 million in deals were concluded and the overall economic impact reached IDR130 billion ($7.8 million).

Variety highlighted 12 standout Indonesian films for 2026, including Children of Heaven by Hanung Bramantyo, Kamila Andinis Four Seasons in Java, Joko Anwars Ghost in the Cell, Edwins Sleep No More, Yosep Anggi Noens The Sea Speaks His Name, Dance of the Damned, Garuda: Dare to Dream, The Last Flight, Na Willa, Operation: Pesta Pora, Rainbow in Mars, and Suzanna Witchcraft.

Established in 2006, the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival launched JAFF Market in 2024 to connect filmmakers, investors, institutions, and content creators. The 2025 market ran from November 29 to December 1 at the Jogja Expo Center in Yogyakarta, coinciding with the festivals 20th anniversary celebration.

• Travel and accommodation for Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2026: Our Son, My Mother
• Facilitation to Rotterdam Lab 2026: Evil Underground
• Facilitation to Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum 2026: A Life Full of Holes and To My Dearest, My Dear
• Sound design post-production ($10,000): Ghost Island
• Editing and color grading ($15,000): Ghost Island
• Color grading and mastering ($15,000): Rose Pandanwangi
• Color grading ($9,000): Our Son
• Production equipment support ($30,000 per project): A Life Full of Holes, To My Dearest, My Dear
• Development grants ($3,000$4,000): Ghost Island, To My Dearest, My Dear, A Life Full of Holes

Author: Sophia Brooks