Indonesia and Iran Strengthen Cultural Ties Through 2025 Iran-Indonesia Movie Week
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesia’s Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, has highlighted the 2025 Iran & Indonesia Movie Week as a key platform for enhancing the long-standing cultural exchange between the two nations, a relationship that dates back to the 1970s.
Speaking at the festival’s opening on Friday, Zon underscored the deep influence of Persian philosophical literature on Indonesia’s literary traditions. “This influence has shaped our artistic heritage for centuries, and today, this cultural exchange has evolved into a new form through the power of film,” he stated.
Zon emphasized the importance of film as a medium of soft power, allowing audiences to experience various expressions of artistic culture, including acting, dance, music, literature, and even culinary arts.
The festival also marks 75 years of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Iran. “This event reaffirms our shared vision in the development of art, the preservation of cultural heritage, academic exchanges, and the creative industry. It provides a platform for filmmakers from both countries to connect and contribute to global cultural diversity,” he affirmed.
The minister expressed hope that the festival would bolster international recognition of Indonesian cinema. Indonesia’s film industry has been on a significant growth trajectory, reaching a record 81 million viewers in 2024. The government projects the industry will expand by 6.13% by 2027, contributing approximately Rp156 trillion (USD 9.2 billion) to the national GDP.
The Iran-Indonesia Film Festival is a joint initiative between the Iranian Embassy in Indonesia and the Indonesian Ministry of Culture. It will showcase eight Iranian and Indonesian films at various universities and schools across Indonesia, including in Yogyakarta, Palembang, Banten, Makassar, and Bandung, until the end of February.
Zon also encouraged further creative collaboration between Iranian and Indonesian filmmakers, fostering exchanges of ideas and opening new opportunities for joint productions.
