An Actor Who Can’t Act: Ernest Prakasa’s Bold Premise Ignites the World Premiere of Lupa Daratan at JAFF20
On the fourth day of JAFF20, the Indonesian Film Showcase presented the world premiere of Lost In The Spotlight (Lupa Daratan), the latest film by Ernest Prakasa, which also marked his return to the director’s chair. A collaboration between Imajinari and Netflix, Lupa Daratan is set to debut globally on Netflix starting 11 December 2025.
Starring Vino G. Bastian, the film introduces Vino Agustian, a celebrated actor who has just won the Best Actor award and is immediately entrusted with portraying an important Indonesian historical figure. But at the peak of his career, his ability to act suddenly disappears. This crisis forces Vino to retrace his life journey, revisit pivotal memories, and search for his identity amid intense public pressure—ultimately confronting the principles and character that define him.
Told through a back-and-forth narrative structure, Lupa Daratan blends humor and emotion as it follows Vino’s absurd yet heartfelt odyssey. During the Q&A session, Ernest shared that the concept began with a challenge from Netflix to create a film that did not stem from his usual personal anxieties. From there emerged the mischievous idea: “an actor who suddenly can’t act.” Ernest and Netflix hope that this fresh approach can open new doors for Indonesian comedy to reach international audiences, especially since the genre remains underrepresented on Netflix’s global platform.
