The Netherlands and Indonesia Sign Co-Production Treaty
The Netherlands and Indonesia have officially signed a co-production treaty today. The NL-IND Co-Production Treaty provides filmmakers with opportunities to produce films that create cultural and economic value in both the Netherlands and Indonesia.
The signing ceremony took place in Yogyakarta during the Yogyakarta Film Festival and was conducted by Barbera Wolfensberger, Director-General for Culture and Media, and the Indonesian Vice Minister of Culture, H. Giring Ganesha Djumaryo, S.I.Kom. The event was also attended by the Dutch Ambassador, Marc Gerritsen.
The treaty was developed in response to a need for more intensive collaboration and knowledge exchange between independent filmmakers and producers from the Netherlands and Indonesia. It grants producers access to national funding and incentives while fostering artistic and technical collaboration between creative professionals from both countries. Additionally, it enhances the visibility of Dutch films in Indonesia and Indonesian films in the Netherlands.
Barbera Wolfensberger commented: "This treaty represents an important step in the cultural and creative collaboration between the Netherlands and Indonesia. For the film industries of both countries, a long-standing wish is being fulfilled: Indonesian and Dutch filmmakers can now collaborate on new projects more easily, encouraged to combine their talents and knowledge. Together, they can bring stories to life that transcend borders."
Giring Ganesha: ‘The Indonesian government welcomes the initiative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, through the Netherlands Film Fund, to establish a co-production treaty aimed at enhancing and facilitating cooperation in audiovisual co-productions to support the growth of the film ecosystem in both countries. Indonesia is currently experiencing significant growth and is emerging as one of the largest film industries in Southeast Asia. This treaty will be a key factor in unlocking the full potential of this development. We hope it will strengthen and advance the film ecosystems of both nations.’
In addition to policymakers, the Netherlands Film Fund, the Netherlands Film Commission, SEE NL, and the film festival Movies That Matter were also present at the signing, along with film professionals such as director Jim Taihuttu (The East) and producer Sander Verdonk (New Amsterdam Film Company), as well as director Martin Koolhoven and producer Els Vandevorst (N279 Entertainment). Koolhoven and Vandevorst are currently collaborating on Koolhoven’s new feature film, Emerald Butterfly, which is set largely in post-World War II Jakarta.
Koolhoven remarked: "This treaty opens doors for deeper collaboration between filmmakers from the Netherlands and Indonesia. It allows us to tell stories that not only touch on our shared past but also forge new connections for the future. For a film like Emerald Butterfly, this is a unique opportunity. Hopefully, this treaty provides both creative and practical possibilities, elevating the production to the next level."
Image: The Publicist
