About the panel
In this session, we will explore new strategies and discoveries presented by leading experts through compelling case studies, examining how innovative distribution tools can be implemented across the diverse landscapes of the Global South.
Indonesia has recently emerged as one of the most compelling examples of a Global South film industry capable of building large local audiences while maintaining strong cultural specificity. Led by Adrian Jonathan Pasaribu, this conversation moves beyond celebratory narratives of box-office success to critically examine the cultural, industrial, and political conditions that have shaped the recent expansion of Indonesian cinema.
With Jessica Kiang responding from an international critical and curatorial perspective, the session will interrogate the limits of “cultural exception” as a concept, questioning what can—and cannot—be translated across territories, and how local relevance negotiates visibility within global circuits.
Moderator
Carlos A. Gutiérrez | USA
Co-Founding Executive Director of Cinema Tropical, member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Film Forum’s Board
Speakers
Jessica Kiang | Ireland
Film critic, programmer, Berlinale Selection Committee member, AFF 2026 Shorts Jury Member
Adrian Jonathan Pasaribu | Indonesia
Film critic, curator, AFF 2026 Selection Committee Member
Katalina Tobón | Colombia
Deputy Director of International Promotion at Proimágenes Colombia