The creative economy account @ekraf.ri tags its posts #NewEngineofGrowth. Yet the four Indonesian films heading to Busan this October are not about growth. They are about a mother trying to reach her daughter on death row, a woman coming home after 20 years in prison, a punk singer forced into rehab, and a student activist under the New Order.

Four Indonesian films will screen at the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in Busan, South Korea, from 6 to 15 October 2026. The films are Ibuku, Laut Bercerita, Empat Musim Pertiwi and alPa. They appear in different sections, from the main competition to a short film contest. Ticket prices were not listed in the announcement, so check BIFF's official website for how much seats cost.

  At a glance

• Indonesian films selected 4
• Festival edition 31 st
• Festival days 10 (6–15 October 2026)
• Prison sentence in Empat Musim Pertiwi 20 years

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Kementerian Ekonomi Kreatif/Badan Ekonomi Kreatif RI (@ekraf.ri)

Which Indonesian Films Are at BIFF 2026?

Ibuku, directed by Eddie Cahyono, is in the main competition category. It is a co-production with Japan. A mother tries to meet her daughter, who was sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia after being accused of murder. The promo frames show smoke curling through a dark, blue-lit room, and the film strip carries Kodak 16mm branding.

Laut Bercerita comes from director Yosep Anggi Noen. It is adapted from the novel of the same name by Leila S. Chudori. Reza Rahadian plays Biru Laut Wibisono, a student activist in the Winatra discussion group. The story is set in the New Order era and follows the fight for justice and democracy.

Empat Musim Pertiwi, directed by Kamila Andini, is in the A Window on Asian Cinema section. A woman returns to her village after serving 20 years in prison for killing a man. The stills bathe a dark hillside in deep red light.

alPa, directed by Dhiwangkara Seta, is a short film in the Wide Angle – Asian Short Film Competition. A punk vocalist is arrested and forced into a rehabilitation center. There, he meets the one person he has been avoiding. The stills are loud: a singer screaming into a mic under red light, and men crawling on concrete in red headbands.

What Do These Four Films Have in Common?
Put the plots side by side and a pattern shows up. Ibuku is about a death sentence. Empat Musim Pertiwi is about a prison sentence. alPa is about forced treatment. Laut Bercerita is about young people who spoke up against power. Each film asks what happens to a person after the system decides their fate.

That is not the postcard version of Indonesia. It is also a surprising way to represent the country abroad. Ekraf calls Busan one of the biggest and most prestigious film festivals in Asia, and says many Indonesian films have broken through there before.

Here is one more fact worth sharing. The four titles are spread across at least three sections, from the main category to a short film contest. Indonesia is not sitting in one room at this festival. It is in several.

How Can You Follow BIFF 2026?
The festival runs from 6 to 15 October 2026 in Busan. The full program and ticket details will be on BIFF's official website. For updates from the Indonesian side, follow @ekraf.ri on Instagram.