Next year, the Jakarta World Cinema (JWC) festival will once again host its First Feature Competition, open to emerging filmmakers from across the globe. The revived competition will be judged by an international jury, a significant shift from previous editions that exclusively featured Indonesian judges. According to festival director Shandy Gasella, speaking to Variety, the challenge of assembling an international jury led to the competition's hiatus this year.
"[Previously] we’ve only had Indonesian judges," Gasella revealed, underscoring the festival's commitment to broadening its scope. The JWC team now plans to attract international jury members with robust filmographies, ensuring a high standard of evaluation for the worldwide submissions.
JWC, positioned between October's Jakarta Film Week and the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival in late November, has carved out a niche for showcasing acclaimed international cinema. Frederica, executive director of Jakarta World Cinema and director of KlikFilm, which oversees film acquisitions, noted the festival's dedication to bringing top-tier films to local audiences. "We travel to [different] film markets, Berlin, Toronto, Cannes, etc.," Frederica stated, highlighting their effort to curate the year's most important art films.
This year's edition of the festival boasts its largest lineup to date, with 102 theatrical titles out of a total program of 207. Programming director Daniel Irawan shared ambitions to further expand the lineup in the coming year and enhance audience capacity through continued collaboration with its primary venue, CGV Grand Indonesia.
Beyond feature films, JWC also champions new talent through its short film competition. Held in June, this year's contest attracted over 300 entries from professionals, amateurs, and students. A total of 50 short films—30 in competition and 20 non-competition titles—are slated for screening during the festival. The winning short film, along with the audience choice award recipient, will be announced on the closing day. Notably, the best short film winner will receive full funding from KlikFilm for the production and distribution of their debut feature film.
The festival receives backing from Dana Indonesiaraya, a matching fund supported by both the government and the film industry, as confirmed by Indonesian Culture Minister Fadli Zon. Following its conclusion in Jakarta on November 7, the festival program will extend its reach, traveling to Bandung World Cinema and Malang World Cinema for local extensions running from November 14 to 21.