Jakarta World Cinema Revives Global First Feature Competition, Announces International Jury for 2025 Edition
Jakarta World Cinema has announced the return of its First Feature Competition next year, opening submissions to filmmakers worldwide and featuring an international jury panel. The move marks a significant revival for the Southeast Asian platform after a year-long hiatus from accepting entries.
- Jakarta World Cinema will accept global submissions for its First Feature Competition starting next year, marking a return after this year’s submission freeze.
- The revived edition will be judged by an international jury, aiming to elevate diverse voices in contemporary cinema.
- Industry observers see the revival as a strategic boost for Southeast Asian filmmaking and regional industry visibility.
Jakarta World Cinema is set to revive its First Feature Competition next year, opening the prestigious showcase to filmmakers worldwide and entrusting selection to an international jury. The announcement ends a year-long suspension of submissions, with the 2025 edition poised to reestablish the event as a key platform for emerging global talent.
The First Feature Competition had been a cornerstone of Jakarta World Cinema’s mission to spotlight debut auteurs from the region and beyond, but organizers paused the program this cycle amid shifting industry landscapes and logistical recalibrations. Since its inception, the competition has championed bold, first-time voices, and its hiatus was noted by critics as a gap in the international festival calendar.
According to industry reports, the revival has been welcomed by both regional filmmakers and international distributors eager for fresh first-feature entries. ‘We are thrilled to open the floor to storytellers from every corner of the globe,’ said a Jakarta World Cinema spokesperson, emphasizing the competition’s commitment to artistic diversity and cross-cultural dialogue.
