Netanya Yemima’s feature directorial debut “To My Dearest, My Dear…”, whose short film “The Most Handsome Fish on Earth” premiered at the 20th Jogja Netpac Asian Film Festival last year, has been selected as a JAFF Future Project. This work is a time travel drama about a father who is about to die and travels to the future to meet the daughter he will never live to meet.
Directed by Yemima and produced by Bela Nabila and Bayu Arief, this Indonesian film is one of 10 Asia-Pacific titles selected for the JAFF Future Project at this year’s JAFF Market in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. This project previously participated in Jakarta Film Week Producers Lab 2024 and Platform Busan 2025.
“To My Dearest, My Dear…” follows soon-to-be father Adam as he prepares for the end of his life after being diagnosed with cancer in 2008. Until one day he discovers a way to travel through time. Taking a chance, he flies into the future and meets his daughter, Nadia, whom he never lived to meet.
Adam continues to travel through time in order to allow his wife Masha and Nadia to live the future they once dreamed of, even without him. However, when he visits Nadia at the age of 16, their bond is broken and he learns that Masha is planning to marry someone new. Desperate to understand what went wrong, Adam grows closer to Nadia. Together, they embark on a whirlwind mission to disrupt Masha’s new relationship, while discovering a fragile, exciting, and unexpected bond between a father and daughter who were never meant to meet.
“When Bella approached me with the idea for ‘To My Dearest, My Dear…’ I fell in love with the song right away,” says Yemima. “I think this is a father-daughter story told in a very unique and compelling way. We then had a long conversation in which we shared our feelings and personal relationships with our fathers. As we developed the story, we realized that our different backgrounds could further enrich the story and make it something that resonates universally.”
What started as an exploration of time travel and father-daughter relationships has evolved into something deeply personal. “That’s a story I just couldn’t resist,” she says.
The director wants to explore the theme of enduring love. “I thought a lot about how time and life change. It’s a little scary that as time passes, nothing changes,” says Yemima. “But love, love may remain, and that’s a beautiful thing. Through this film, I want to talk about the theme of abiding love. It’s about a love that endures even when life or illness or time itself separates people. It’s an empowering love, as in the case of the protagonist Adam, whose love for his family transcends life and death.”
Producer Nabila, who also co-wrote the script, emphasized the project’s personal resonance. “Our feature film debut has deep sentimental value for Netanya and me, not only as creators but also as daughters,” she says. “Netanya and I had a very different father-daughter dynamic, and that contrast actually worked to our advantage. It opened up a richer perspective in shaping Adam and Nadia, and allowed us to develop a relationship with more nuance, empathy, and emotional truth.”
This is Yemima and Nabila’s sixth collaboration. “Her craftsmanship really shined in her last short film, The Most Handsome Fish on Earth,” says Nabila. “She has the ability to balance seriousness with a light touch while providing an emotional experience that resonates with the audience.”
Producer Areef believes the film will be a fresh option in the Indonesian market. “In today’s Indonesian market, which is dominated by horror films, heartwarming stories like this will offer audiences a truly fresh alternative,” he says. “As Indonesian film genres become increasingly diverse, especially in films that incorporate hints of fantasy and thoughtful explorations of the genre, we believe our films can tap into this industry’s expanding field and contribute to exploring new directions in storytelling.”
At JAFF Market, the team hopes to connect with potential investors, Indonesian production companies, and international distributors. “The JAFF Future Project provides us with the kind of space we were looking for, where potential investors, Indonesian production companies and even international distribution companies can actually participate in the project,” says Nabila. “We hope they feel what we feel and believe in this story as much as we do.”
Yemima’s previous short films include “Sunat Racing,” which received funding from Jakarta Film Week, and “Rumah Kuta Kita,” which won the Best Film award at Semester 2021 Pendek. “The Most Handsome Fish on Earth” was developed at LOCK x Full Circle Lab 2023 and funded by Layar Indiana.
The JAFF Future Project is designed to serve as a development platform and co-creation hub, advancing independent works towards completion and distribution. The initiative will run from November 29th to December. It was held at Yogya Expo Center in Yogyakarta as part of the broader 20th anniversary celebrations of the Yogya Netpac Asian Film Festival.
