Jakarta. The Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (JAFF) will return this weekend.

The film festival will run until Dec. 6, 2025. Countless films await, including Garin Nugroho’s musical "Opera Jawa", which would be screened in its original 35mm celluloid format as the opening film. Aco Tenriyagelli’s feature directorial debut “Suka Duka Tawa” will wrap up the festival. 

"The Spirit of Transfiguration, chosen as the theme for this year's JAFF, also symbolizes JAFF's twenty-year celebration of the brilliant transformation of our cinema amidst the ever-changing dynamics of Asian cinema," said Ifa Isfansyah, Director of the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival.

JAFF20 will present 227 films from 43 countries in its competition and non-competition programs. The festival has selected eleven feature-length films for the main competition for the Golden and Silver Hanoman awards. 

Among them is Thailand's ‘A Useful Ghost’ -- director Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke's feature-length debut -- which won the Grand Prix at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival's Critics' Week. Two films featuring renowned actors making their directorial debuts are also on the cards: Shu Qi's “Girl” and Reza Rahadian’s “Pangku”. 

Thirteen Indonesian films will also compete for a wide range of categories at the Indonesian Screen Awards program. Sidharta Tata’s “Ikatan Darah” and Ho Wi Ding’s “Esok Tanpa Ibu” will premiere in Indonesia at JAFF20.

JAFF20 will also once again hold a short film competition within its "Light of Asia" program, with 17 films competing for the Blencong Awards. In the non-competitive program, JAFF20 will once again present some of the best short and feature films from the Asia Pacific.

JAFF has also partnered with Cinema XXI as the primary venue for its film screenings.
Go to @jaffjogja or jaff-filmfest.org to find out more about the program. Tickets are also available on jaff-filmfest.org and TIX.ID.