Jakarta Independent Film Festival

November 15^th | 16^th 2025

5^th Edition

Jakarta Independent Film Festival is organized by HF Productions’ Indonesian branch, an international production company run by a collective of independent filmmakers, producers and marketing professionals. Our mission is to create a collection of film festivals that support independent filmmakers in a very competitive and often unfair industry. We believe there is disenchantment with the anonymity and exclusivity of the festival circuit. We aim to provide a support system for emerging talents and independent filmmakers, based entirely on their skill set and passion.

Held in the heart of Indonesia’s busiest metropolis, Jakarta Independent Film Festival welcomes the best independent filmmakers from around the world! We want to showcase stories of different genres, styles, and from different countries! We are looking for stories that capture the imagination, talent, and diversity of independent filmmakers, which will leave audiences in awe.Jakarta Independent Film Festival is organized by HF Productions’ Indonesian branch, an international production company run by a collective of independent filmmakers, producers and marketing professionals. Our mission is to create a collection of film festivals that support independent filmmakers in a very competitive and often unfair industry. We believe there is disenchantment with the anonymity and exclusivity of the festival circuit. We aim to provide a support system for emerging talents and independent filmmakers, based entirely on their skill set and passion.

A panel of international judges will be selecting the best films in each category, to create a unique and exciting program for two nights of screening. Filmmakers will get a chance to win and have their films screened at the auditorium of Institut of Français d’Indonésie, a state of the art theater that has held international concerts, film screenings, and cultural activities; right in the middle of Jakarta!

Awards & Prizes

Our panel of international judges will shortlist nominees of each category for the Official Selection. The selected films from the Official Selection will be screened and at the end of the festival, will also hold an award ceremony, where we will be awarding winners from these categories.

International Feature Film

This category is for International narrative feature (countries other than Indonesia) should be more than 30 minutes, showcasing the filmmakers best work. The language used must be in English or provide English subtitles for non-english speaking dialogues.

International Short Film

This category is for International narrative short fiction (countries other than Indonesia) should be no more than 30 minutes, showcasing the filmmakers best work. The language used must be in English or provide English subtitles for non-english speaking dialogues. Date of completion should be no less than 2018.

International Feature Documentary

This category is for international feature documentary (countries other than Indonesia) has to be more than 30 minutes, must be in English or provide English subtitles for non-english speaking dialogues. Date of completion should be no less than 2018.

Indonesian Short Documentary

This category is exclusive for Indonesian produced short documentary films, should be no more than 40 minutes Films in this category must provide English subtitles for non-english speaking dialogues.

Short Animation

Films in this category should be no more than 30 minutes. Must be in English or provide English subtitles for non-english speaking dialogues.

Rules & Terms

All submissions must be in English (Or accompanied by English subtitles, if in any other language).

Short Films must be under 30 minutes in duration.
Indonesian category is exclusively for Indonesian produced films.
Student films must provide proof of student ID.
Filmmakers are responsible for the copyright of their own materials.
By submitting to us, you give us the right to screen your film in front of a live audience, and, under special circumstances, online screening.
Nominations: All films nominated for an award in every category. Not all nominated films will be screened.
Official Selection: Nominated films selected for screening will be notified via email. If you received a Nomination email, but no Official Selection email, it means your film will not be screened, but is still a contender for an award in its category.
Award Winners: Chosen from the Nominations (which includes the Official Selection).
We may use clips from your film on social media, based on the press kits you have provided us with.
We retain the right to change the date and venue of the festival under special circumstances. All filmmakers will be informed about any changes through our online platforms.
We place no restrictions on your work in terms of premiere status or whether your work has been made available online.
Any technical issues with the submitted films are 100% the responsibility of the filmmakers. If, at the time of judging, your video file doesn’t work or doesn’t have English subtitles (if in a language other than English), it will be automatically rejected, without a refund. Please contact the festival team ASAP if there are any issues with the submission process, and a solution will be found.