The Goethe-Institut's highly anticipated annual German film festival, KinoFest, has officially launched its third edition in Jakarta and Bandung. The festival began on Thursday, 10 October, with the screening of Das Lehrerzimmer (2023), a film nominated for the Academy Awards’ Best International Film category, directed by Ilker Çatak.

KinoFest 2024 will be available to the public free of charge until 13 October, with screenings held at GoetheHaus Jakarta and Institut Français Indonesia (IFI) Bandung. In Jakarta, audiences can enjoy 11 films, while Bandung will showcase 10 films, spanning genres such as documentary, adventure, drama, comedy, animation, and thriller. A highlight of this year’s event is the post-screening discussion sessions, including one with Narges Kalhor, the director of Shahid (2024), on 11 October in Bandung and 13 October in Jakarta.

KinoFest 2024 is a collaborative effort of eight Goethe-Instituts across Southeast Asia and New Zealand, presenting the latest German films from 2021 to 2024. The festival will travel to several countries, including the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam. Under the theme "Global Ties, Personal Journeys," this year's festival focuses on youth and their experiences of self-discovery, cultural changes, and identity formation.

Dr. Ingo Schöningh, Regional Head of Cultural Programmes at Goethe-Institut Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, remarked, “KinoFest features films documenting real stories of collective loss, pain, growth, purpose, and community formation. This cinema reflects the challenges of contemporary German society, grappling with its traumatic past and the history of violent reactions to migrants. The program includes films that connect globally, with each personal journey offering insights into migration, disability, and gender challenges."

Curator of KinoFest 2024, Lisabona Rahman, added, “The world continues to develop different ties that bind it together, yet each journey is personal, situated within starkly contrasting realities that grow stronger each day. Cinema proposes ways to connect and take notice of voices from different positions, and this is precisely the space we want to offer through this festival.”

For more details on KinoFest 2024, visit goethe.de/indonesia/kinofest.

Jakarta Screening Schedule at GoetheHaus

• Thursday, 10 October
  • 7 p.m.: Das Lehrerzimmer (2023) directed by Ilker Çatak [Invitation only]
• Friday, 11 October
  • 2 p.m.: Sieger sein (2024) directed by Soleen Yusef
  • 5 p.m.: Life Is Not a Competition But I’m Winning (2023) directed by Julia Fuhr Mann
  • 7.30 p.m.: 791 KM (2023) directed by Tobi Baumann
• Saturday, 12 October
  • 11 a.m.: Checker Tobi und die Reise zu den fliegenden Flüssen (2023) directed by Johannes Honsell
  • 2 p.m.: Liebe Angst (2022) directed by Sandra Prechtel
  • 4.30 p.m.: Einzeltäter Teil 3: Hanau (2023) directed by Julian Vogel
  • 7 p.m.: Im toten Winkel (2023) directed by Ayşe Polat
• Sunday, 13 October
  • 2 p.m.: She Chef (2022) directed by Melanie Liebheit & Gereon Wetzel
  • 4.30 p.m.: Shahid (2024) directed by Narges Kalhor
  • 7.30 p.m.: Die Theorie von Allem (2023) directed by Timm Kröger

About Goethe-Institut
The Goethe-Institut is the Federal Republic of Germany’s cultural institute, promoting the study of German abroad and fostering international cultural exchange. Its diverse programs support intercultural dialogue and global mobility, while offering a comprehensive view of German political, social, and cultural life.