Global Filmmakers Unite: Next Step Studio Ignites New Cinema

Eight directors from various nations collaborated in Jakarta for the Next Step Studio Indonesia 2026 program, resulting in four short films. These films, co-written and co-directed by Indonesian and Southeast Asian filmmakers, are set to screen at Cannes' Critics' Week.

This initiative, a traveling program established in 2013, is designed by producer Dominique Welinski to provide intensive, cross-cultural filmmaking training. "More than 80 directors have gone through this program since 2013," Welinski noted, highlighting its success in launching feature films for its alumni.

The four featured pairings include Reza Fahriyansyah and Ananth Subramaniam with "Holy Crowd," Shelby Kho and Sein Lyan Tun on "Original Wound," Reza Rahadian and Sam Manacsa with "Annisa," and Khozy Rizal and Lam Li Shuen on "Mothers Are Mothering." All films were produced in Jakarta.

Producers Yulia Evina Bhara and Amerta Kusuma emphasized complete creative freedom for the directors, enabling them to tackle difficult subjects. The collaborative process, though challenging, led to productive creative friction and unique cinematic outcomes.

The program is also viewed as a structural intervention to bolster Indonesia's capacity for international co-productions, addressing a local gap in producer expertise and financing structures. This initiative aims to build lasting industry relationships beyond just visibility.