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Cannes Critics' Week Unveils Next Step Studio Indonesia for Emerging Filmmakers
23 Oct
Summary
- Cannes Critics' Week partners with Indonesian production companies to launch talent development program
- Four pairs of directors will collaborate on short films, debuting at Critics' Week
- Program aims to connect Indonesian talent with international distribution channels

Cannes Critics' Week has announced the launch of a significant new talent development program, Next Step Studio Indonesia, in partnership with Indonesian production companies KawanKawan Media and DW. The initiative, which marks an expansion of Critics' Week's existing workshop programs, will see four pairs of directors collaborate on a quartet of 15-minute short films.
The lineup features an equal split between Indonesian talent and international filmmakers, with each duo sharing writing and directing duties. Funding for the Jakarta-based production comes entirely from Indonesian sources, including municipal authorities and cultural institutions, with additional support from the French Embassy and Institut français d'Indonésie.
The finished works will debut at Critics' Week with a dedicated "Next Step Presents" showcase, providing the participating directors with a platform to present their debut or sophomore feature concepts to acquisition executives, sales agents, and potential co-production partners. The program aims to not only introduce stories from Indonesia but also to amplify Southeast Asian voices on the international stage.
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"Our goal is all about using collaboration as a framework to launch not only stories from Indonesia, but also to introduce Southeast Asia talents and voices who can grow in the international stage in the future," said Yulia Evina Bhara of KawanKawan Media, who is co-producing the inaugural edition.




