Rainbow on Mars Film Set to Become a Proud Indonesian IP, Releasing for Lebaran 2026
Jakarta, VIVA – Indonesia's film industry is once again gearing up to deliver an ambitious work with the film "Pelangi di Mars" (Rainbow on Mars), scheduled for release on Lebaran, 18 March 2026. Produced by Mahakarya Pictures, the film is not merely intended as family entertainment but is also being positioned as a major step towards building an original Indonesian intellectual property (IP) capable of competing at the global level.
Since the release of its official trailer, which immediately captured public attention, "Pelangi di Mars" has demonstrated the production team's commitment to crafting a child-friendly science fiction film to high quality standards. The film tells the story of Pelangi, the first child born on Mars, who continues her mother's mission to find minerals to save Earth from a future water crisis.
Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar said she felt a profound sense of pride after watching an early version of the film.
"From start to finish, I honestly felt an extraordinary sense of pride. Not just from the technical aspects, but from the way it was packaged. This film is a truly rare moment because it contains morals and ethics that need to be instilled from a young age — and they are woven into the film neatly and beautifully. For me, this is a great achievement, not just technically but overall. This film is a must-watch for children and adults of all ages," said Irene Umar at a press conference in the SCBD area of Jakarta on Thursday, 19 February 2026.
This support has provided additional energy for producer Dendi Reynando and director Upie Guava, who have been developing the project over the past five years.
Dendi Reynando stressed that from the outset he wanted to create an IP that would not end with a single film.
"We felt that if we only made a film with no sequel and no derivative products, it would be a waste. So we have truly built a very large ship and collaborated with many parties so that this great vessel can become a source of shared pride," said Dendi.
Since the release of its official trailer, which immediately captured public attention, "Pelangi di Mars" has demonstrated the production team's commitment to crafting a child-friendly science fiction film to high quality standards. The film tells the story of Pelangi, the first child born on Mars, who continues her mother's mission to find minerals to save Earth from a future water crisis.
Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar said she felt a profound sense of pride after watching an early version of the film.
"From start to finish, I honestly felt an extraordinary sense of pride. Not just from the technical aspects, but from the way it was packaged. This film is a truly rare moment because it contains morals and ethics that need to be instilled from a young age — and they are woven into the film neatly and beautifully. For me, this is a great achievement, not just technically but overall. This film is a must-watch for children and adults of all ages," said Irene Umar at a press conference in the SCBD area of Jakarta on Thursday, 19 February 2026.
This support has provided additional energy for producer Dendi Reynando and director Upie Guava, who have been developing the project over the past five years.
Dendi Reynando stressed that from the outset he wanted to create an IP that would not end with a single film.
"We felt that if we only made a film with no sequel and no derivative products, it would be a waste. So we have truly built a very large ship and collaborated with many parties so that this great vessel can become a source of shared pride," said Dendi.