Indonesian Short Film “Little Rebels Cinema Club” Wins Prestigious Crystal Bear at 75th Berlinale
Berlin, The Gulf Observer: The Indonesian short film “Little Rebels Cinema Club,” directed by Khory Rizal, has secured the prestigious Crystal Bear award at the 75th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival, commonly known as Berlinale.
The film triumphed in the Generation Kplus Short Film category at the esteemed international festival held from February 13 to 23, 2025.
According to a statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Berlin, received on Saturday, the 17-minute film is set in 2008 and follows the journey of a 14-year-old boy named Doddy from Parepare City, South Sulawesi. Doddy harbors a dream of making films worthy of being shown in theaters, alongside his three best friends. Driven by his passion for filmmaking, he aspires to move to Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, as his hometown lacks cinemas.
Director Khory Rizal expressed gratitude for the overwhelming positive response “Little Rebels Cinema Club” received at the Berlinale 2025, stating that the film’s success underscores the potential of Indonesian cinema to gain international recognition.
Beyond this award-winning short film, the 75th Berlinale also showcased other Indonesian films, including “After Colossus” by Timoteus Anggawan Kusno, “Sammi: Who Can Detach His Body Parts” by Rein Maychaleson, and “Mirage: Eigenstate” by Riar Rizaldi.
The Indonesian Embassy in Berlin reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Indonesian filmmakers in future editions of Berlinale. The embassy has been working towards establishing networks that connect Indonesian filmmakers with relevant communities in Germany. This initiative aims to create a mutually supportive film ecosystem and strengthen Indonesia’s film industry on the global stage.
