Jakarta Film Week sets Ah Girl to open, The Sea Speaks His Name to close
Singapore's Ah Girl will open the sixth Jakarta Film Week, with Indonesia's The Sea Speaks His Name set to close it.
The festival runs Oct. 21-25, with Ah Girl, directed by Singaporean director Ang Geck Geck Priscilla, as the opening film and The Sea Speaks His Name (Laut Bercerita), directed by Yosep Anggi Noen, as the closing film, according to Variety.
Organisers unveiled the programme on Sept. 23 at a press conference at CGV Grand Indonesia. Jakarta Deputy Governor Rano Karno and Ministry of Culture official Ahmad Mahendra attended the announcement, according to Variety.
The 2026 edition carries the theme Encounters. It follows the 2025 theme Reignite, and festival director Rina Damayanti leads this year's event, according to Variety.
The closing slot doubles as a homecoming. The Sea Speaks His Name will have its Indonesian premiere, meaning its first screening in Indonesia, as the festival's closing film.
The film adapts the novel of the same name by Leila S. Chudori. Reza Rahadian and Dian Sastrowardoyo lead the cast, according to Variety.
For audiences in Jakarta, the pairing puts a Singaporean opener and a local literary adaptation on the same bill. It is a compact way to frame five days of screenings, talks and meetings.
The festival site also lists JFW360, described as a way for audiences to enjoy films in a different way, and JFWNET, an industry programme for new Indonesian filmmakers, according to Jakarta Film Week. JFWNET is aimed at emerging local talent looking for training, contacts and routes to production.
