Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival Celebrates Two Decades of Championing Asian Cinema
The Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF), a cornerstone of Southeast Asian independent film, returns November 29 – December 6 for its 20th edition, showcasing 227 films from 47 countries across the Asia Pacific region. Founded on a commitment to amplifying voices often marginalized on the global stage, JAFF has evolved from a grassroots, volunteer-driven event into a vital platform for discovery, collaboration, and the preservation of Asian cinematic heritage.
JAFF’s origins, as recalled by festival director Ifa Isfansyah, stemmed from “a simple but urgent desire to create a home for Southeast Asian and Asian cinema, especially independent voices.” The inaugural festival in 2006, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of Yogyakarta – known locally as Jogja and a cultural heartland of Indonesia – was described as “modest in scale, but full of passion.”
From the outset, the festival prioritized community over commerce. “We wanted a festival that grew from community values rather than commercial ambitions,” Isfansyah explains. “Jogja allows us to remain intimate, grounded, and closely connected to its audiences. It is a place where filmmakers and viewers can meet organically, without hierarchy, and build relationships beyond the screen.”
The festival’s roots run deep within Jogja’s vibrant artistic landscape. Long before JAFF’s founding by Indonesian auteur Garin Nugroho, the city fostered a thriving network of film communities and experimental filmmakers. When Nugroho initiated the first JAFF, over 70 of these communities rallied in support, even as the event faced near-cancellation due to a devastating earthquake in May 2006.
Those early years were characterized by resourceful ingenuity. The first edition unfolded in a stage performance complex, relying on film selections curated through Netpac networks and personal connections. Organizers, comprised of filmmakers, students, and cinephiles, hand-carried film prints, created makeshift subtitles using PowerPoint, and constructed stages from borrowed materials – a testament to their dedication to celebrating Asian stories.
“From a small, volunteer-based festival, JAFF has now transformed into one of the most important Asian film festivals in Southeast Asia,” Isfansyah notes. The festival has expanded significantly, growing from fewer than 30 titles to approximately 200 annually, and transitioning from a community event to a professionally structured festival with dedicated curators and thematic sections. Despite this growth, Isfansyah emphasizes that the core spirit of JAFF remains unchanged: “JAFF is still a festival rooted in community, inclusivity, and the desire to create meaningful encounters between films and audiences.”
This year’s edition features a diverse program, including the Asian feature competition, the Indonesian Screen Awards, and the Jogja Showcase, which highlights the work of local filmmakers. The festival will open with a 35mm screening of Garin Nugroho’s musical Java Opera, a piece originally presented at the Venice celebrations marking Mozart’s 250th birthday in 2006 and also the opening film of the inaugural JAFF. Isfansyah recalls the premiere as an iconic moment, with audiences overflowing the cinema and some seated on the floor to experience the film.
JAFF’s rise has mirrored the resurgence of Indonesian cinema since 2000. The festival has served as a launchpad for many acclaimed Indonesian directors, including Yosep Anggi Noen, Kamila Andini, Hanung Bramantyo, and Isfansyah himself, providing a platform for their early shorts, debut features, and experimental works.
A key long-term mission for JAFF is audience development. Recognizing the dominance of foreign blockbusters in local cinemas, the festival has actively cultivated a culture of appreciation for Indonesian and Asian films through community forums – bringing together over 60 film communities annually – educational programs like masterclasses, inclusive screenings for visually and hearing-impaired audiences, and affordable ticketing. “Over time, JAFF has created a loyal audience base that is curious, critical, and eager to discover new perspectives,” Isfansyah states. He observes that Indonesian audiences are increasingly drawn to films with strong storytelling, cultural resonance, and emotional depth, qualities often found in Asian cinema due to shared cultural nuances – family dynamics, social realities, and spiritual themes. JAFF’s programming intentionally blends independent titles with selections from prestigious festivals like Cannes and Venice.
The JAFF Market, launched last year, represents a significant milestone, hosting 151 exhibition booths and attracting 6,732 visitors. “As the Indonesian industry expanded, JAFF’s role deepened: from a festival that screens films to a platform that supports development, networking and industry connections,” Isfansyah explains. The market, the first structured film market in Indonesia, focuses on connecting Southeast Asian talent with producers, distributors, and funders, formalizing a collaborative spirit that JAFF had long fostered informally. This year’s three-day market will run parallel to the festival at the Jogja Expo Center (JEC) from November 29-December 1. “JAFF Market is not just a commercial hub; it is a curated space that reflects JAFF’s values: discoverability, inclusion, and ecosystem building. It strengthens JAFF’s position as an essential industry gateway in the region,” Isfansyah continues.
JAFF operates on a hybrid funding model, drawing support from the Indonesian government’s ministries of culture and creative economy, the cultural office of Yogyakarta, local and national sponsorships, ticket sales, and partnerships with platforms like Netflix, Vidio, KlikFilm, and the Asian Film Awards Academy.
Despite its success, JAFF faces ongoing challenges, including limited screening space due to a lack of large venues in Jogja, the need for stable funding to maintain artistic independence, and the difficulty of archiving early JAFF materials and film prints. “Each challenge pushes us to innovate and adapt,” says Isfansyah, who envisions the next decade focused on “deepening JAFF’s roots while expanding its regional influence.” The festival aims to solidify its position not just as an event, but as a cultural movement and a guardian of Asian cinema heritage, with a renewed emphasis on archiving initiatives.
