The Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (JAFF) returns as a meeting point for currents of cinema from across Asia. Over eight days, from November 28 to December 5, 2026, film industry professionals and cinema lovers will gather in Yogyakarta for a series of screenings, competitions, and awards for Asian films.
This meeting of different currents is captured in “Influx,” the theme for JAFF’s 21st edition. In English, influx refers to an incoming flow or current. Through this theme, JAFF hopes to be a meeting point for people of different generations and backgrounds who bring new ideas, so that Asian cinema can stay alive and endure in a constantly changing world.
JAFF Program Director Alexander Matius sees the theme reflected in the films selected. “We see every film we selected as a small current that, together with the others, will shape a bigger idea,” Alexander said at JAFF’s press conference in Jakarta on Friday, November 6, 2026.
JAFF Festival Director Ifa Isfansyah explained why the theme was chosen. “This year, we chose Influx because we felt it was the right theme to be a crossroads for new ideas and currents of renewal. I think its meaning is important in today’s situation, as a way to make things better,” Ifa said.
For JAFF, which has been running for more than two decades, a festival also means more than just a space for celebration. “It’s a festival, so of course we have to celebrate something. But in this context, we use the festival to take a fresh look at what’s happening right now, because that’s what a film festival is for,” Ifa said.
That spirit is reflected in the 254 films from 34 countries presented at JAFF21, curated from more than a thousand submissions. According to Alexander, this year’s films show issues that are bringing the Asian region closer together. “Memory, home, and family come up very often, but in different forms of experimentation. Maybe it’s also because a different generation of filmmakers is emerging,” he said.
Director Wregas Bhanuteja (Photocopier/Penyalin Cahaya, 2021; Andragogy/Budi Pekerti, 2023), who produced Mate’s Rate (Harga Teman) (Andrew Kose, 2026), competing in the Indonesian Screen Awards, has also felt this new current. He first discovered Asian cinema through JAFF in 2008, when he was still in high school.
“Southeast Asian films used to have quite similar styles. Now Asian cinema is becoming more diverse. Filmmakers are bold enough to blend their style with European cinema, while still telling distinctly Asian stories,” Wregas said.
The festival will open with the Filipino drama Silenced Nights (Lawrence Fajardo, 2026) and close with the Japanese comedy-drama You Are the Film (君は映画) (Makoto Ueda, 2026).
Over eight days, JAFF’s lineup includes JAFF Film Festival, JAFF Market, JAFF Kids, and JAFF Awards. Some of these grew out of programs that have been developed year after year.
“We’re always developing our programs. Usually we try them out first as a program within the festival. Then, if we think they have room to grow, we develop them further,” Ifa said.
JAFF Market, which focuses on the industry, takes place from November 28 to 30, 2026, at Jogja Expo Center (JEC). JAFF Kids has a dedicated slot on Sunday morning, with simultaneous screenings in five theaters. This year, JAFF is also introducing JAFF Education, a series of expert-led workshops previously known as the Special Program.
Meanwhile, the JAFF Awards are being held for the first time this year, honoring individuals, communities, and institutions that contribute to the Asian cinema ecosystem.
For Ifa, this growth marks a new phase for JAFF as it enters its third decade. “At 21 years old, we think JAFF is mature enough to inspire, create impact, and bring energy. We hope that impact will grow stronger in shaping film culture in Indonesia,” Ifa said.
Actress Asmara Abigail, who stars in Black Coffee (Jeremias Nyangoen, 2026) in the Main Competition, also celebrated the milestone. “Happy 21st birthday, officially an adult. For a film festival to last this long, keep evolving, and stay relevant is no easy feat. It’s all thanks to the community’s hard work,” she said.
