'Laut Bercerita' to Compete in BIFF 2026 Main Competition

Indonesian film Laut Bercerita, directed by Yosep Anggi Noen and produced by Pal8 Pictures, has earned a spot in the Main Competition at the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) 2026 in South Korea. This marks the first time an Indonesian film has entered the festival's main competition.The film, titled The Sea Speaks His Name internationally, will compete for the Best Film award alongside other international titles.

BIFF will run from October 6 to 15, 2026, in Busan. The film will make its world premiere at BIFF before its Indonesian theatrical release on October 29, 2026.Budi Setyarso, Pal8 Pictures' director, expressed gratitude for the recognition of Laut Bercerita, which is based on a popular Indonesian novel. He stated, "We are grateful that Laut Bercerita, adapted from a novel that is very popular in Indonesia, has received recognition from such an important event as the 2026 Busan International Film Festival."

The film's producer, Gita Fara, emphasized that BIFF provided an ideal platform for the film's international debut. Fara hoped that the screening in Busan would spark wider discussions across Asia about the importance of telling this story. For Noen, Noen's personal significance lies in returning to a festival that had a formative impact on his career.

19 years ago, he attended a film workshop for emerging filmmakers at BIFF. He noted that BIFF is important for Asian and world cinema, and being in the main competition allows Laut Bercerita to share an important story with the world. The film's adaptation from Leila S. Chudori's bestselling novel stars Reza Rahadian, Yunita Siregar, Eva Celia, and others. Pal8 Pictures produced the film with support from various studios and companies.