According to reporting from Antara News, the Indonesian Government is encouraging investors to set up cinemas in cities and districts that lack such facilities, citing the large number of movies being produced and the growing number of moviegoers as key opportunities for business growth.
“Hopefully, there will be more cinemas in these areas,” Deputy Minister of Culture, Giring Ganesha, said on Monday (9/12/24.)
He said that his ministry has been communicating with cinema networks in Indonesia, who have given the green light for the idea.
According to the National Film Agency, in February 2023, Indonesia had 517 cinemas with a total of 2,145 screens, located across 115 districts and cities, says Antara News.
Giring said that Indonesian films are starting to dominate. Furthermore, about 60 percent of the total movie audience is watching films produced by Indonesian filmmakers, adding that by the end of this year, he believes the number of viewers of Indonesian films, including in cinemas and online, could reach 75 million.
Minister of Culture Fadli Zon separately emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting the development of the Indonesian film ecosystem, assuring that the nation’s films can compete on the international stage, Antara News reports.
According to the minister, Indonesian films have now become “masters in their own country,” widely accepted by the public and with great potential to go global.
“The Ministry of Culture encourages the film ecosystem to grow in line with the expectations of industry professionals. Support in the form of budgets, such as film funds, is crucial, especially for films with national themes, children’s films, or works of art that require affirmation,” he said.
On November 7, 2024, MD Entertainment, one of the largest domestic film companies listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange, highlighted that Indonesian cinema has reached the peak of its popularity, says Antara News.
The number of viewers of Indonesian films in 2024 was the highest in 98 years, with the total reaching 68.95 million as of November 3, the company said.
Citing data, the company said that the number is expected to reach 70 million by the end of the year compared to approximately 55 million last year.
This year, the company noted, around 100 Indonesian films have been screened in cinemas.
Source: Antara News
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