TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian film Laut Bercerita, produced by Pal8 Pictures and directed by Yosep Anggi Noen, has been selected for the Main Competition of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) 2026 in South Korea, becoming the first Indonesian film to compete in the festival's main competition.
The film, internationally titled The Sea Speaks His Name, will compete for the Best Film award alongside international titles at the festival, which will run from October 6 to 15, 2026, in Busan.
Laut Bercerita will also have its world premiere at BIFF before its theatrical release in Indonesia on October 29, 2026.
Budi Setyarso, director of Pal8 Pictures, said the selection marked an important recognition for the film, which is adapted from a popular Indonesian novel.
“We are grateful that Laut Bercerita, adapted from a novel that is very popular in Indonesia, has received recognition from such an important event as the 2026 Busan International Film Festival,” Budi told Tempo on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. “We look forward to bringing the film to audiences in Indonesia. See you on October 29.”
Laut Bercerita Heads to Busan
Producer Gita Fara said BIFF offered an appropriate platform for the film's international debut.
“A film carrying a story about Indonesia will be watched by Asian and international cinema audiences. We hope its screening in Busan can also spark broader conversations across Asia about why this story is important to tell,” Gita said in a statement on Tuesday.
For Noen, returning to Busan carries personal significance. He first attended a film workshop for emerging filmmakers at the festival 19 years ago, early in his career.
“Busan is an important film festival for Asian and world cinema. Being in the main competition, Laut Bercerita brings a story that is important to share with the world,” Noen said.
He added that Indonesian films are increasingly being screened in countries around the world, which he said reflects the global relevance of stories from Indonesia and their ability to stand alongside international films.
A New Path to the Oscars
The 2026 festival marks BIFF's 31st edition and comes amid changes to the Academy Awards' eligibility rules.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has revised the rules for the 99th Academy Awards, expanding the eligibility pathway for the Best International Feature Film category. Under the new rules, the winner of BIFF's Best Film award can be submitted for consideration in the category outside the standard mechanism for official national entries.
Laut Bercerita is adapted from Leila S. Chudori's bestselling novel of the same name.
The film stars Reza Rahadian, Yunita Siregar, Eva Celia, Christine Hakim, Arswendy Bening Swara, Dian Sastrowardoyo, Yoga Pratama, Kevin Julio, Ben Nugroho, Dewa Dayana, Nagra Kautsar, Ibnu Jamil and Natalius Chendana, among others.
The film is produced by Gita Fara, Leila S. Chudori and Budi Setyarso. Pal8 Pictures produced the film with support from VMS Studio, Jagartha, Lynx Films, Gambar Gerak Film and Brandlink.
