A film about a student who vanishes in the 1990s is about to have its world premiere in South Korea, competing against films from all over the globe for a single award.

That film is Laut Bercerita, produced by Pal8 Pictures and directed by Yosep Anggi Noen. It has just been selected for the Main Competition of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) 2026  making it the first Indonesian film to compete in the festival's main competition. The film, known internationally as The Sea Speaks His Name, will compete for the Best Film award alongside international titles at the festival, which runs from October 6 to 15, 2026, in Busan.

At a glance:

• Festival dates: October 6–15, 2026, Busan, South Korea
• Indonesian theatrical release: October 29, 2026
• Novel behind the film: reprinted more than 120 times, roughly 700,000 copies sold
• First Indonesian film ever in BIFF's main competition slate

What Is Laut Bercerita About ?

The story follows the Wibisono family, whose eldest son, Biru Laut, vanishes during the 1990s political turmoil. His parents cling to hope he's still alive, while his sister slowly accepts he may be gone. It's a family drama built on top of a very real, very painful chapter of Indonesian history  the era of forced disappearances under the New Order regime.

The film is adapted from Leila S. Chudori's novel of the same name, a book that has become something of a modern classic in Indonesia. It has been reprinted more than 120 times, with around 700,000 copies sold and an estimated 1.4 million readers. 

The cast reads like a who's-who of Indonesian cinema: Reza Rahadian, Yunita Siregar, Eva Celia, Christine Hakim, Arswendy Bening Swara, Dian Sastrowardoyo, Yoga Pratama, Kevin Julio, Ben Nugroho, Dewa Dayana, Nagra Kautsar, Ibnu Jamil and Natalius Chendana. 

Credit : en.tempo.co

Why Does the Busan Selection Matter So Much?

Here's the part that makes this genuinely a big deal. BIFF is the only film festival in Asia recognized on the same level as Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Sundance, and Toronto for meeting the entry requirements to the Academy Awards. And the rules just changed in the film's favor: the Academy has expanded the eligibility path for Best International Feature Film for the 99th Academy Awards, meaning the Best Film winner at BIFF can now be submitted for that category.

Director Yosep Anggi Noen has a personal history with the festival, too.

"19 years ago, at the start of my career, I joined a workshop for beginner filmmakers in Busan  and now I'm so happy to come back to Busan bringing this film," said director Yosep Anggi Noen in a press statement on Tuesday (1/9)

Producer Gita Fara added that the team hopes the Busan screening sparks wider conversation across Asia about why this story needs to be told.

What Happens After Busan?

Laut Bercerita will have its world premiere at BIFF before its theatrical release in Indonesia on October 29, 2026. Getting a world premiere slot at a major festival before a domestic release is a common playbook for films chasing international attention  it builds buzz overseas that filters back home.

Behind the scenes, Pal8 Pictures  the production house's very first feature  worked with a stacked support team: VMS Studio, Jagartha, Lynx Films, Gambar Gerak Film and Brandlink, with the film produced by Gita Fara, Leila S. Chudori and Budi Setyarso. 

For Indonesian cinema, this isn't just one film getting a nice invite. It's a signal that stories rooted in Indonesia's own history  heavy, political, personal ones  can compete on a global stage without being softened for export.