Indonesia Unveils New Cultural Blueprint With Focus on Film Industry Growth (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Naman Ramachandran Indonesia’s first-ever Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, has outlined an ambitious blueprint for the nation’s cultural growth, with special emphasis on developing the country’s rapidly expanding film industry. “This is the first time for Indonesia to have a new Ministry of Culture.

This is a new chapter for cultural development under President Prabowo Subianto’s administration,” Zon tells Variety in an exclusive interview at the Hong Kong FilMart market.

The newly established ministry is guided by Indonesia’s constitutional mandate, which Zon notes has been in place for 80 years, requiring the state to advance “Indonesia’s national culture within global civilization by ensuring the freedom of society to preserve and develop its cultural values.” The ministry’s strategy rests on three key pillars: protection and revitalization of cultural heritage, cultural diplomacy, and development of the cultural economy through digital innovation.

The latter specifically targets film industry growth, which Zon describes as experiencing “rapid growth” with more than 200 films produced last year and cinema audiences exceeding 80 million.