Virtual production technology enters Indonesian horror cinema at Cannes

Jakarta – The Indonesian film industry has entered a new phase in using virtual production technology for the mystery horror film Bisikan Desa Gringsing. ‘Virtual production is not merely technology. It is a new creative language for storytelling in Southeast Asia. We are proud to be pioneers in its use in Indonesian horror cinema alongside our partners,’ said Nick GC Tan, CEO of Oceanus Media Global (OMG Studios), in a press release in Jakarta on Monday. The project by director Ivander Tedjasukmana is claimed to be the first long-form Indonesian horror film to use a high-resolution LED volumetric stage. Mandela Pictures, in partnership with OMG Studios, utilised the advanced studio facilities at Iskandar Malaysia Studios (IMS) during principal photography. The international co-production between Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia received full incentives from the governments of the three countries. In Singapore, the film’s production was supported by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). In Indonesia, the film received support from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia. The plot centers on Hesti’s journey to search for her missing father, who becomes trapped in the terror wrought by a spirit. Veteran actors Surya Saputra and Kiki Narendra, as well as actress Mian Tiara and Fatmah Nahdi, also strengthen the cast. The studio is targeting an official release in Indonesian cinemas in 2026, followed by releases in Malaysia and Singapore, and then to Turkey and Azerbaijan.