Prepare Filmmakers, BMK Holds Technical Guidance for Open Call Layar Anak Indonesiana.TV 2026

In order to produce quality educational content for the younger generation, the Cultural Media Center (BMK) officially held a Technical Guidance (Bimtek) event for selected participants of the Open Call Layar Anak Indonesiana.TV 2026. This event is a crucial step in deepening and refining all aspects of preparation before entering the film production stage.

Overview of Open Call 2026 Journey

Essentially, the Open Call Layar Anak Indonesiana.TV 2026 is an open call program aimed at national filmmakers. This program opens wide opportunities for national film enthusiasts to submit unique, interesting, and educational children's story ideas themed around Indonesian culture. The main focus of the cinema being developed is to tell the diversity of children's stories wrapped in the uniqueness of local cultures typical of the archipelago.

This program challenges local film creators to actively participate in the production of short fictional children's films. Unsurprisingly, 80 proposals were submitted through the registration link created. Of that number, 76 passed the administrative selection and entered the substance selection led by 3 curators: Rina Damayanti, Moriza Prananda, and Edy Prasetyo.

The strict selection of story ideas narrowed the number of participants down to only 15 who entered the Pitching round. In this stage, the 15 teams were given 5 minutes for presentation and 5 minutes for Q&A. A clash of ideas occurred. As a result, 8 proposals were selected to receive film production funding from BMK.

They are “Pasukan Singa Kardus” from PT Jiva Cinema Indonesia – West Kalimantan, “Pasukan Klepon” from CV Elora Production – Yogyakarta, Samudra di Atas Laut - CV Creative Intercine Film from West Sumatra, “Popok Pok” from PT Manoc Film Indonesia – West Sumatra, “Samasta Allegra” from CV Cipta Membelah Antara – Yogyakarta, “Mak, Abe Lowbat” from CV Historia Kreator Indonesia – West Kalimantan, “Meong, Bikul, dan Kisah si Pemburu” from PT Sinemedia Kreatif Bali – Bali, “Katumbiri Nutug Leuwi (Pelangi yang Jatuh ke Sungai)” from CV Aulia Jaya Group – West Java.

Each of the eight teams, represented by 2 people, was invited to Jakarta to attend the Technical Guidance event and sign the contract letter.

Technical Guidance: An Important Pillar of Pre-Production

Speakers Irfan Ramli and Ninik L Karim along with moderator Vherendio in the discussion of Bimtek Open Call Layar Anak Indonesiana.TV

The implementation of this technical guidance is considered very vital. The pre-production stage is one of the important foundations in the film industry, where ideas and concepts are honed to mature both narratively and technically. Through this Bimtek, filmmakers receive intensive training from experts and film practitioners, ranging from script refinement, visual concept development, production management, administrative documentation, and even from the perspective of child psychology.

On the second day, for example, we brought in a psychology expert and lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology, University of Indonesia (1980-2018), Niniek S. Karim. The woman who has been involved in the national film scene since the 1970s provided perspectives from the side of child psychology. She emphasized the importance of ensuring that we make children's films, not just films about children. Therefore, it must be emphasized that the perspective is indeed that of children, not the POV of adults telling stories as if they were children.

For her, it is also important for filmmakers to understand their audience. "Also understand, who is my audience? For example, if my audience is Gen Alpha, then I need to understand what Gen Alpha is like? What are their thoughts? How do they feel? So that they want to 'approach' and watch our film," said Ms. Niniek. 

The panel session also featured Irfan Ramli, a director and screenwriter. He has produced numerous works over the years in the national film industry. "When making a short film, first realize what the format of a short film is. Making a short film is not a stepping stone to making a feature film, friends. It is also not a feature film that has been shortened."

In principle, he explained, making a short film is the freest medium of filmmaking. "The level of difficulty (in making a short film) is indeed high, but the level of freedom is great." This, according to him, is what short filmmakers can take advantage of.

"The film must be easy to understand. Like when we make jumbo. We invite children to listen to the jumbo story. So it's like a fairy tale. When we tell the story, we observe their expressions. We note whenever they laugh and enjoy which part of the story," said Irfan Ramli.

Produce Quality Cultural Content

Ultimately, Bimtek can serve as fuel that further strengthens the feelings that are being "brewed" by filmmakers. Thus, interesting, unique, educational children's short films rich in Indonesian cultural nuances can be achieved. The presence of these works is expected to fill the digital space with content that is not only entertaining but also rich in moral values.

Through the synergy between the Cultural Media Center and national filmmakers, the Open Call Layar Anak Indonesiana.TV 2026 is expected to be a positive stimulus for the children's film ecosystem in Indonesia, while also strengthening the cultural identity of the nation in the digital era. (*)