The Festival Sinema Australia Indonesia (FSAI) 2023 Returns to the Big Screen

The Australian Embassy and Consulate Generals in Indonesia are pleased to announce the return of Festival Sinema Australia Indonesia (FSAI) on wide screen in 2023, showcasing the very best of Australian film to Indonesia. From 24 February to 18 March, 7 selected films will be screened at 7 cities with more than 40 screenings in total. The festival also features seven masterclasses and other opportunities for film students.

Opened by Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Penny Williams PSM, and Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, this cross-cultural film festival will be a great opportunity for participants and audiences to interact with film experts in the industry, as well as watch examples of superb Australian and Indonesian cinema.

2023 marks the 70th anniversary of the Australia Awards in Indonesia scholarship program, which has facilitated Indonesian students to pursue higher education in Australian universities for decades. As such, FSAI features popular films by Indonesian Australian alumni, as well as a range of exclusive events for Australian Alumni, including special screenings and networking events.

Festival Line Up

Spanning a diverse range of genres, this year’s line-up of films is a celebration of uniquely Australian stories that highlight our history, diversity, and creativity. “Sweet As”, a coming-of-age film about an Indigenous teenager on a trip in Western Australia, a journey that helps her to discover her identity, the ups-and-lows of friendship, youth and first love through the lenses of photography. This is also the first Western Australian feature film to be written and directed by an indigenous Australian woman. 

Other films that will be featured in this film festival include the biographical film “Penguin Bloom” starring the world-class actress Naomi Watts as Samantha Bloom, a two-time world para surfing champion. Movies such as “Moon Rock for Monday”, “The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson”, and the animated comedy “Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway” co-produced by Australian animation studio Animal Logic, are also part of the diverse and intriguing line-up. Indonesian movies “Paranoia”, featuring Nirina Zubir, Nicholas Saputra, Caitlin North Lewis; and “Humba Dreams”, featuring J.S Khairen, Ully Triani, will also be part of the screenings.

The festival will also showcase two masterclasses per city, including Character Driven Story Telling, with Steve Rodgers; and Virtual Production in Australia: filmmaking on the cusp of change, with Victoria Ducket.  

How to Join the Festival Sinema Australia Indonesia

Spreading the festival to a wider audience, Festival Sinema Australia Indonesia 2023 will be available not only in Jakarta, but also other major cities in Indonesia, including Surabaya, Makassar, Mataram, Yogyakarta, Bandung and South Tangerang.

As the festival’s partners, all of the screenings will take place at a selected CGV Cinema in each city. The screenings are available to the public, completely free of charge. Participants only have to register for tickets (to individual events) online via Event Brite. 

The general festival dates for each city are as follows:

Jakarta – CGV Grand Indonesia
24 – 26 February 2023

Surabaya  – CGV Marvel City 
25 – 26 February 2023

Makassar  – CGV Panakkukang Square 
25 – 26 February 2023

Mataram  – CGV Transmart Mataram 
25 – 26 February 2023

Yogyakarta  – CGV Pakuwon Mall Jogja 
4 – 5 March 2023

Bandung  – CGV Paris Van Java 
11 – 12 March 2023

Tangerang Selatan  – CGV Teras Kota 
18 March 2023

For more information and how to get your tickets, visit FSAI.id