Joko Anwar Engages Six Illustrators for Film 'Ghost in the Cell'

Jakarta — Director Joko Anwar has engaged six Indonesian illustrators with international standing for his latest film, Ghost in the Cell. The artists are tasked with creating horror installations, a visual concept that is beautiful yet terrifying and a core storytelling element of the film. ‘Indonesia has so many talented illustrators with strong and unique visual styles,’ Joko Anwar said in a press release from the production house received in Jakarta on Wednesday. He said the collaboration is important for the growth of the local creative ecosystem. ‘By involving them, we are not only enriching the film’s visual world, but we also want to send a message that cross‑medium collaborations like this are important,’ he added. The six illustrators are Anwita Citriya, Benediktus Budi, Benny Bennos Kusnoto, Coki Greenway, Hafidzjudin, and Rudy AO. They designed visual forms representing society’s fears. ‘We discussed the shapes for each horror installation scene in the film. They all represent what we collectively fear in society,’ Joko said. Anwita Citriya is known as an illustrator for American comics such as Creepshow (2022) and the updated Universal Monsters series as cover artist (‘Phantom of the Opera’, ‘Frankenstein’). Benediktus Budi often works on posters for international bands such as Toxic Holocaust for promoting the 2024 Japan tour and the poster ‘Scare Tactics’, a prank show that aired on USA Network in 2024. Benny Bennos Kusnoto is a creature designer with 17 years of experience. His work includes a ghost layout artist for the comic ‘Justice League Dark #7’, freelance web comic illustration for Namco Bandai, and freelance illustration for Stone Blade Entertainment. Hafidzjudin has a distinctive hand-drawn style for horror/gore visuals. Some well‑known music groups he has worked with include Seringai, Dead Squad, and Down For Life. Meanwhile, Rudy AO is a digital colouring expert from Bandung who has worked on DC comic covers and on two major IPs, Red Sonja and Vampirella. He specialises in pencil and colouring techniques using acrylics and digital tools to create cinema-quality illustrations, akin to film stills. The film Ghost in the Cell tells of a haunting terror inside the Labuhan Angsana Prison that targets inmates with negative energy. The film has secured distribution partnerships in many countries after its premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale). Well Go USA has acquired North American broadcast rights. In addition to the United States, the film will screen in Russia, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, and Mongolia. The Singapore, Cambodia, and Vietnam territories will be handled by distributor Purple Plan Pte. Germany and surrounding areas will also release the film through Plaion Pictures. The production team is currently negotiating screenings in the Benelux region (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg).