The Cultural Media Center is once again presenting the Layar Anak Indonesiana.TV (LAI) 2026 program. This program is an open call for filmmakers from all over Indonesia to participate in the production of short fictional films for children that highlight local stories from various regions.

Layar Anak Indonesiana.TV 2026 comes as a creative space that encourages the emergence of content for children. Not only educational, we hope that LAI 2026 can promote the uniqueness of Indonesia's local arts and culture that thrive in society through storytelling approaches that are fresh, original, and relevant to the children's world. Values of character, aesthetics, cultural appreciation, and children's curiosity are also important elements expected to be present in every work.

The Layar Anak Indonesiana.TV program in 2026 generally has several objectives, namely to increase the availability of quality shows for children that contain character education, cultural values, and local wisdom. In addition, LAI 2026 is also expected to strengthen and develop the national film ecosystem by opening access and broader collaboration spaces for the public.

Documentation of the shooting process of one of the beneficiaries of the OpenCall Layar Anak Indonesiana.TV in 2024 titled 'Anak Anyaman'.

Themes Sought

Somewhat different from previous events, this year the themes sought for LAI include:

1. Food Security from the Perspective of Children and Indonesian Culture

The issue of food security is not just an economic or policy matter, but also part of everyday culture that is close to children's lives. From eating habits at home, family cooking traditions, regional food processing methods, to the balance of community relationships with nature—all of these contribute to children's understanding of food.

It is also important to remember that Indonesia is rich in local food resources, from sago in Papua, corn in Nusa Tenggara, to rice in Java. All of these—when elaborated appropriately—will certainly result in interesting stories.

Bringing this theme from a child's perspective is also important as it can instill early awareness about the origins of food, the variety of local food ingredients, foster love for local cuisine, and the value of appreciating nature and local produce.

2. Reinterpretation of Indonesian Folktales/Local Stories from a Child's Perspective

Folktales are cultural heritage rich in values, but often feel "distant" or less relevant to children when presented in conventional forms. That is why reinterpretation (the process of reinterpreting or re-meaning) of folktales is important to revive these stories with a newer and fresher approach—from the perspective of the children's world, of course.

Through a child's perspective, folktales can be reworked with a simpler, imaginative, and emotional viewpoint. This opens up opportunities to reintroduce local characters, conflicts, and moral messages in a context that is more relevant to children's lives today. Thus, children not only become viewers but can also feel ownership and connection to their cultural heritage.

3. Children as the Next Generation of Culture

Children are the heirs of the future of culture. What they see, hear, and experience today will shape how they understand and continue culture in the future. Bringing up this theme means giving children space to appear as main characters who act as agents, guardians, preservers, and even movers of culture.

A scene from the film 'Serdadu Apel Emas', a selected proposal at the OpenCall Layar Anak Indonesiana.TV in 2023.

Moreover, this theme is relevant in the context of the rapid changes of our times. In the midst of globalization and technological development, children need to have strong cultural roots to maintain their identity and selfhood. Film can be an effective medium to instill these values in a fun and lasting way.

Stories that focus on children as cultural agents can foster a sense of pride, ownership, and responsibility towards local identity.

Thus, the OpenCall Layar Anak Indonesiana.TV is not just a program, but a collective spirit to present meaningful children's content. Let's take part and bring the uniqueness of Indonesia's local stories to a wider screen. Submit your story proposal now! (*)