From international festival favorites to acclaimed independent films and documentaries, Indonesian moviegoers outside Jakarta are getting more opportunities to experience quality cinema on the big screen.

Access to acclaimed films from major international festivals is becoming more accessible to audiences across Indonesia. Cinépolis Cinemas Indonesia and KlikFilm have introduced two new programs, Malang World Cinema (MWC) and Cinépolis Sala de Arte x KlikFilm Showcase, expanding the space for alternative and international cinema beyond Jakarta.

The two initiatives aim to bring a wider selection of festival films, documentaries, independent productions, and works by filmmakers from around the world to local audiences.

The programs were announced at Cinépolis Senayan Park in Jakarta on Thursday, October 8, followed by a special screening of NAZA, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor. The film previously received the Special Jury Prize at the 2026 Venice Film Festival.

Malang World Cinema Arrives in November

One of the most anticipated programs is Malang World Cinema, scheduled to take place from November 14 to 21, 2026, at Cinépolis Malang Town Square.

The event expands on the success of Jakarta World Cinema (JWC) 2026, which presented an impressive selection of 207 films from 69 countries. Among them were 120 films that had received awards at international film festivals.

JWC 2026 also featured 20 films selected as their respective countries’ official submissions for the International Feature Film category at the 2027 Academy Awards.

With Malang World Cinema, some of these acclaimed titles will become more accessible to audiences in East Java, particularly in Malang, a city known for its active creative communities and vibrant film culture.

Frederica, Director of KlikFilm and Executive Director of Malang World Cinema, said the expansion reflects the company’s commitment to making quality cinema more accessible across Indonesia.“This collaboration is a concrete step for KlikFilm to continue bringing quality cinema closer to Indonesian audiences more evenly. Through Malang World Cinema and Sala de Arte, we are not only bringing the best-curated films from international festivals to the big screen, but also seeking to build a consistent and sustainable film appreciation ecosystem outside Jakarta,” Frederica said.

Festival Director Shandy Gasella added that the festival is designed to give audiences in Malang a more complete experience of global cinema.“Malang World Cinema is here to provide audiences in Malang with a complete cinematic experience through the diversity of perspectives found in world cinema. We are bringing hundreds of selected works, from prestigious festival winners to Oscar representatives, so that audiences outside the major cities can directly experience the pulse and dynamics of global film culture in cinemas,” Shandy said.

Award-Winning Films Headline the Lineup

Several films from acclaimed filmmakers are expected to be part of the Malang World Cinema lineup.

Among them is Cristian Mungiu’s Fjord, which is being highlighted as a Palme d’Or winner at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.

The festival will also feature the Southeast Asian premiere of Inherit, the latest horror film from Thai filmmaker Banjong Pisanthanakun, best known for Shutter and The Medium.

Other titles include Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Minotaur, Ryūsuke Hamaguchi’s All of a Sudden, and The Debut, directed by Jesse Eisenberg.

NAZA, the acclaimed film by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, is also part of the selection following its Special Jury Prize win at Venice 2026.

Another major highlight is Woman Unknown by May el-Toukhy, which has drawn attention after winning the Golden Lion at the 2026 Venice Film Festival.

For audiences who prefer to watch films digitally, Yellow Letters by İlker Çatak will also be available through KlikFilm.

The complete Malang World Cinema lineup and ticketing details will be announced gradually through the official social media channels of Malang World Cinema, KlikFilm, and Cinépolis.

Sala de Arte Makes Its Indonesian Debut

Alongside the Malang festival, Cinépolis and KlikFilm are introducing Sala de Arte x KlikFilm Showcase, a regular theatrical program dedicated to selected international films.

The Sala de Arte concept is not new to Cinépolis. It was first launched in Mexico in 2012 as a dedicated space for alternative films, classics, festival titles, and documentaries.

Since then, Sala de Arte has expanded to more than 25 Cinépolis screens across Mexico and has also reached other countries, including Chile, Costa Rica, and Guatemala.

In Indonesia, Cinépolis is partnering with KlikFilm, which will serve as the program’s curator and partner, bringing a selection of world cinema to local theaters.

Alejandro Aguilera Garibay, CEO of Cinépolis Cinemas Indonesia, said the program is intended to give internationally acclaimed films a more consistent presence on Indonesian cinema screens.“We believe Indonesian audiences deserve to enjoy world cinema to the same high standard wherever they are. Malang World Cinema opens the door through a festival, and we want that door to remain open in the long term,” Alejandro said.

Sala de Arte Launches With a Three-Film Marathon

The launch of Sala de Arte will begin with a special Marathon Screening on October 15, 2026, one day before the program’s regular screenings begin.

Audiences will be able to watch three films in succession:

• Sheep in the Box
• Aftersun
• NAZA

Tickets for the marathon are priced at Rp60,000, with sales beginning October 9, 2026, through the official Cinépolis website.

Sheep in the Box

Sheep in the Box is the latest film from acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda, who previously won the Palme d’Or for Shoplifters.

The film competed at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival and follows a married couple struggling with the loss of their son. Their lives take an unexpected turn when they encounter a humanoid with the exact same face and voice as their child.

The film stars Haruka Ayase, Daigo, and Rimu Kuwaki.

Aftersun

Meanwhile, Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun stars Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio in an intimate story about a father and daughter spending a holiday together at a resort in Turkey during the 1990s.

The film explores family, memory, and the emotional complexities hidden within seemingly ordinary moments.

NAZA

Completing the marathon is NAZA, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.

The film received the Special Jury Prize at the 2026 Venice Film Festival and was given a special screening at Cinépolis Senayan Park during the announcement of the two new programs.

The Program Will Screen in Six Cities

The Sala de Arte Marathon is not limited to audiences in Jakarta. Moviegoers in five other Indonesian cities will also have the opportunity to experience the three-film program.

The screenings will take place at:

• Cinépolis Senayan Park — Jakarta
• Cinépolis Lippo Plaza Jogja — Yogyakarta
• Cinépolis Depok Town Square — Depok
• Cinépolis Malang Town Square — Malang
• Cinépolis Java Supermal — Semarang
• Cinépolis Lippo Plaza Medan — Medan

Following the marathon, Sala de Arte x KlikFilm Showcase will begin its regular screenings on October 16, 2026, at the same six locations.

A New Space for Movie Lovers Outside Jakarta

For films that are traditionally more accessible through international festivals, special screenings, or streaming platforms, these programs could open an important new path to wider audiences.

For moviegoers outside Jakarta, the arrival of Malang World Cinema and Sala de Arte also means more choices beyond mainstream commercial releases.

From festival winners and independent gems to documentaries and contemporary works from some of the world’s most respected filmmakers, the initiatives offer Indonesian audiences a chance to discover stories that might otherwise never reach their local cinemas.

And with screenings now extending across Jakarta, Depok, Yogyakarta, Malang, Semarang, and Medan, the world of cinema is becoming a little closer to home.