Deputy Minister of Creative Economy says FSAI 2026 opens collaboration opportunities

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar stated that the Festival Sinema Australia Indonesia (FSAI) 2026 opens up collaboration opportunities for film industry players from both countries. “FSAI serves as a space that brings together industry players to get to know each other and open up collaboration opportunities,” she said, as quoted in a ministry press release on Saturday. At the launch event for the FSAI 2026 series in Jakarta on Wednesday (22/4), she conveyed that the festival can bridge creative industry players from Indonesia and Australia to enhance cooperation. “Collaboration opens up broader access, not only in the domestic market but also globally. This aligns with efforts to make the creative economy the new engine of growth,” she said. The Ministry of Creative Economy hopes that FSAI 2026 can become a space for strengthening collaborations among film industry players from Indonesia and Australia, which may include knowledge exchange, talent capacity building, and expansion of creative works distribution networks. Irene also stated that the film industry is not limited to production and film screenings, but includes businesses such as licensing and derivative product development. “This shows the great economic potential that can be generated,” she said. “FSAI has developed into a collaboration platform that brings together Australian and Indonesian filmmakers and reaches audiences in various cities,” she added. FSAI 2026 will be held from 8–23 May in 11 cities in Indonesia, namely Jakarta, Manado, Semarang, Medan, Bogor, Makassar, Surabaya, Kupang, Banjarmasin, Mataram, and Yogyakarta. The festival includes film screenings, masterclasses, as well as capacity development programmes for industry players and creative communities. There are five Australian films and two Indonesian films that will be screened at the festival. The Indonesian films to be shown at the festival are “Rangga & Cinta” and “JUMBO.” FSAI 2026 will also feature short films by alumni of the Australia Awards programme.