Cross-border collaboration opens up numerous investment opportunities in the film subsector

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya stated that cross-border collaborations among filmmakers can open up investment opportunities in the creative economy subsector, particularly film, and elevate local talent to the global market.

“Cross-border collaboration is a concrete step to open up more investment opportunities in the creative economy subsector, especially film. The Ministry of Creative Economy wants to ensure that Indonesia becomes a friendly destination or shooting location for international productions while being able to elevate local talent to the global market,” Riefky said in an official statement received on Tuesday.

Riefky stated that cross-border filmmaker collaborations between Indonesia and France in the children’s adventure feature film “Happy Eyes” can serve as a strategic project in strengthening bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and France, particularly in the film, animation, and video subsectors.

The Minister of Creative Economy added that the Government is preparing incentive schemes to strengthen the competitiveness of the national film industry, including fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.

“The Ministry of Creative Economy is finalising the film industry incentive scheme, which includes easing permits, strengthening the ecosystem, and potential incentives such as cash rebates. The presence of projects like the feature film Happy Eyes becomes a concrete example that can enrich such policies,” Teuku Riefky continued.

Line producer of the film “Happy Eyes” Chali Sakyan said that the filmmaking process is already in the pre-production stage and will conduct casting for actors in Indonesia in May.

Shooting will begin in mid-July until September, taking place at Taman Safari Bogor, Bali, and several regions in Indonesia.

The story of the film “Happy Eyes” centres on the friendship of a girl named River with a baby orangutan named Happy. The film carries an environmental message for the younger generation to encourage more people to care for and protect wildlife like orangutans, whose population continues to decline.

“Later, this film project will show that Indonesia can be a strategic shooting location country with natural beauty and culture, thus promising investors from abroad,” said Chali Sakyan.