FFI 2026 Judging Panel Unveils Rule Changes for Feature Films

The Head of Judging for the 2026 Indonesian Film Festival (FFI), Budi Irawanto, stated that there are changes to the judging rules for feature films, reflecting lessons learned from previous years.

“First, the provision is that eligible films must be produced by individuals or other Indonesian legal entities,” Budi said during a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday.

Meanwhile, production collaborations with foreign companies are still permitted, provided that the majority of the film’s creative elements are executed by Indonesian citizens.

Furthermore, one category has been renamed to Best Original Songwriter as an effort to appreciate songwriters who play a role in advancing national cinema.

In addition, whereas there were previously four judging stages, the committee has reduced the stages to three: initial selection, the nomination stage, and the winner determination stage.

This judging process is expected to produce superior and substantial winners, achieving the best technical, artistic, and thematic results in Indonesian cinema.

Another change introduced is that the non-feature film category, specifically short documentaries, will now have a minimum duration of 10 minutes, compared to 15 minutes during FFI 2025.

He added that the essence of the FFI judging will maintain a combination of quantitative and qualitative assessments, positioning films as both popular industrial products and high-value cultural works.