Asian Shadows boards Busan competitor 'Ibuku'
Asian Shadows has taken international sales rights to Eddie Cahyono's "Ibuku" ahead of its premiere in Competition at the Busan International Film Festival, reported Variety. International sales means the company offers the film to distributors country by country. That work usually starts at festivals.
The story centres on Sumiati, a widow in her 60s living in isolation in a small Javanese village. Hakim plays Sumiati. Her daughter Sri, played by Ayushita Nugraha, faces execution in Saudi Arabia. Sumiati races to raise funds to reach her one final time.
Landung Simatupang plays village chief Djatmiko. The film was shot on 16mm, an older film stock with a visible grain. Festival listings give a running time of 96 minutes and credit Indonesia and Japan as production countries, listed by BIFF.
The producers are Indonesia's ANP Talenta Media, run by Tika Bravani, and Japan's Knockonwood Inc., headed by Shin Yamaguchi. The film is Bravani's first credit as a feature producer. Isabelle Glachant and Li Xiaorong of Hong Kong's Chinese Shadows are creative producers, while Cahyono holds an executive producer credit through Memorieslight Pictures.
Busan's 31st edition runs from 6 to 15 October 2026. Its Competition section includes 14 titles this year, reported Variety. "Ibuku" screens alongside fellow Indonesian Competition entry "The Sea Speaks His Name" from Yosep Anggi Noen, reported Deadline.
The deal reunites Cahyono with Asian Shadows. The company previously handled sales on his second feature, "Siti" from 2014. Maria Ruggieri, the company's head of sales and acquisitions, leads the launch.
What makes this stand out is the path ahead. Busan provides the premiere and the press attention. Sales meetings decide what happens next. Those deals determine where the film will be subtitled, marketed and released.
