Jakarta. Madani International Film Festival is now back with movies that center on the Muslim world from dozens of countries.

The Madani Fest 2025 has picked “Misykat” or ‘light’ as its theme in response to the “dark clouds” that are happening at home and abroad: political conflicts, violence, and the Gaza crisis. 

Pop culture observer and film critic Hikmat Darmawan has curated the list of films to be screened in the festival that will take place on October 8-12. That includes director Garin Nugroho’s films, “Mata Tertutup” (‘Closed Eyes’), “Serambi” (Porch), “Rindu Kami Padamu” (Longing for You), “Tepuk Tangan” (Clap Hands), and most recently, Nyanyi Sunyi Dalam Rantang (Singing Silently in a Lunch Box).

According to festival director Ahmad Rifki, the event will show 95 films from around 24 countries across several locations: Taman Ismail Marzuki, Studio Epicentrum XXI, Metropole XXI, and Bina Nusantara University (BINUS). Among the films screened are 15 finalists in the Madani Shorts Film Competition, selected from 1,711 films submitted by filmmakers from various countries. The event will show the finalists’ films during the event to be scored by three judges -- Philip Cheah (Singapore), Sajid Farda (UK), and Natalie Stuart (Australia). They will then determine four winners.

Madani Fest 2025 chose Sahel as this year's focus country because of its decolonization and Islamic roots, according to curators Bunga Siagian and Yuki Aditya. The Sahel program will screen five films made by people from Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mali, and Nigeria. Visitors can also join expert classes and discussions. The festival will also feature musicians Panji Sakti and Almamosca, as well as preacher Habib Husein Ja'far Al Hadar and Malaysian comedian Rizal van Geyzel. 

This is the 8th edition of the festival. As a program of the Citra Kawasan Pusat Kesenian Jakarta (TIM) Center for the Arts, Madani Fest 2025 is specifically presented as part of Jakarta's 500th anniversary. 

Go to the official website https://madanifilmfestival.com to find out more about the festival. Follow @madanifilmfest on social media platforms Instagram and X.