The 4th edition of the Italian Film Festival 2025: Venice In Jakarta (ITAFF), which will take place from 22 to 27 April 2025, is a commitment by the Italian Cultural Center (Istituto Italiano di Cultura Jakarta) to fostering cultural diplomacy between Indonesia and Italy.
In partnership once again with the Venice International Film Festival for the second time this year, ITAFF will showcase 7 films that were previously screened in the 81st edition (2024) of the world’s oldest film festival. The event will be held in Jakarta (CGV Grand Indonesia & Istituto Italiano di Cultura) and Yogyakarta (IFI Yogyakarta), and all film screenings available free of charge.
The festival kicks off with the film The Time It Takes (Il tempo che ci vuole), which won the Best Actress award and a special prize for Best Theme Song at the 81st edition of the Venice International Film Festival 2024. Directed by Francesca Comencini, this film tells a personal story between the director and her father, where cinema becomes both their identity and a bond that brings them closer together.
Renowned for its classic films, ITAFF 2025 will close the festival with the 1953 legendary classic, The Wayward Wife (La Provinciale), restored in 4K by CSC-Cineteca Nazionale. Directed by Mario Soldati, it tells a love story between Gemma, her half-brother Paolo, and a neglected professor named Franco. The film was nominated for Best Restoration at the 2023 Venice International Film Festival and received a nomination for the Grand Prix at the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.
Several Indonesian feature and short films have successfully been selected for the Venice International Film Festival. 2006’s Opera Jawa became the first Indonesian feature film to be screened at the festival, while 2014’s Maryam became the first Indonesian short film to premiere there and won the Venice Horizon Award for Best Short Film.
“We didn’t expect that Maryam would be selected for the Venice International Film Festival, and this has been a precious experience for me and my team,” said Sidi Saleh, director of Maryam and a lecturer, who also attended the ITAFF press conference.
Below are all the film titles that will be screened in the Italian Film Festival 2025: Venice In Jakarta:
- The Time It Takes (Il tempo che ci vuole) – 2024 (13+)
- The Wayward Wife (La Provinciale) – 1953 (13+)
- Sicilian Letters (Iddu) – 2024 (21+)
- The Story of Frank and Nina (La Storia del Frank e del Nina) – 2024 (17+)
- The American Backyard (L’orto Americano) – 2024 (17+)
- Feeling Better (Nonostante) – 2024 (13+)
- Dry (Siccità) – 2022 (17+)
“We strongly support initiatives from both individuals and the Italy-Indonesia community in fostering cultural exchange, especially after 78 years of diplomacy. Through Italian Film Festival 2025: Venice In Jakarta, we hope to open and enhance opportunities for collaboration between Italian institutions and/or artists with Indonesia,” said the Italian Ambassador to Indonesia, H.E. Roberto Colaminè, in his speech during the ITAFF Press Conference at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura Jakarta.
“Returning for the fourth time, the Italian Film Festival 2025: Venice in Jakarta is a proof to the growing interest of Indonesian audiences in watching Italian films that are rarely screened commercially in Indonesian cinemas. In addition to Jakarta, we are excited to welcome audiences in Yogyakarta as well!” added Maria Battaglia, Festival Director of the Italian Film Festival and Director of the Istituto Italiano di Cultura Jakarta.
All film screenings and events in ITAFF 2025: Venice in Jakarta can be watched for free of charge. Tickets can be obtained directly at the festival venues (Istituto Italiano di Cultura Jakarta and IFI Yogyakarta), one hour before the film starts. The opening and closing nights of the festival are by invitation only. Check the venue’s capacity at the screening locations before attending and arrive on time.
The screening schedule throughout the festival is available on iicjakarta.esteri.it, as well as @iicjakarta on Instagram, X, Facebook, and YouTube.
