Indonesian Cinema Gains Global Spotlight at SIFF 2026

Jakarta — Indonesian feature film Rencana Besar untuk Mati dengan Tenang (RBMT), directed by Ismail Basbeth, has been selected for the main competition at the 2026 Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF), marking a significant milestone for the country’s film industry.

According to an official statement received in Jakarta on Friday, the film—internationally titled My Own Last Supper—has been nominated across seven categories: Best Feature, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Outstanding Artistic Achievement.

“This achievement is both a pride and an honor for us, as we represent Indonesia in a world-class film festival such as SIFF,” said producer Nugroho Dewanto, who also serves as CEO of Matta Cinema Production.

The festival, scheduled to take place from June 12 to 21, 2026, will host the film’s world premiere. The project was first introduced internationally at the Asian Content and Film Market (ACFM) during the Busan International Film Festival in 2025.

RBMT tells the story of an elderly Chinese-Indonesian man grappling with deep psychological and political trauma tied to his ethnic identity. Through the character Encek, the film explores the lived realities and historical complexities faced by ethnic Chinese communities in Indonesia.

“We want the audience to connect with Encek’s experience and understand the weight of generational trauma, as well as the courage required to break that cycle,” Basbeth said.

The film is adapted from a novel of the same title written by Wisnu Suryaning Adji.

The cast features prominent actors such as Ferry Salim, Melissa Karim, and Verdi Solaiman. It also marks the acting debut of Jessy Davita, Nicholas Anderson, and public intellectual Rocky Gerung.

Following its premiere at SIFF, the film is slated for a nationwide theatrical release in Indonesia in late 2026.

Indonesianpost.com | Antara