Renowned Indonesian film director Garin Nugroho has received one of the country’s highest cultural honors, being promoted by France’s Ministry of Culture to the board of the Agency for Arts and Culture in recognition of his contributions to film.
Fabien Penone, the French Ambassador to Indonesia, Timor-Leste and ASEAN, presented the ornament to Mr. Nugroho during the JAFF Market French Night held at the Indonesian-French Institute in Yogyakarta. The film director was awarded the Chevalier in 2015.
Established in 1957, the Order of Arts and Letters recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to French and world culture. The promotion recognizes Nugroho’s decades-long career shaping Indonesian cinema and expanding its international presence.
Director Nugroho made history in 1998 when his film Daun di Atas Bantal became the first Indonesian film to be screened in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival. This milestone opened the door for Indonesian cinema in France and internationally.
His work continues to have strong resonance with French audiences and organizations. Memories of My Body won the Montgolfiere d’Or at the Festival of Three Continents in Nantes in 2018. In 2023, Jacques Chirac’s Musée Quai Branly hosted a presentation of Setan Java as a large-scale cineconcert featuring a symphonic orchestra and a gamelan ensemble.
The collaboration continues with “Daun di Atas Bantal,” which is scheduled to open the Indonesian Cinema Panorama event on December 10th at the Cinémathèque Française in Paris. This major retrospective will showcase decades of Indonesian film production and will bring prominent Indonesian directors to the French capital.
Nugroho’s latest film Samsara (2024) combines film, live music, Balinese tradition and contemporary formats. This hybrid production won four Citra Awards in 2024, including Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Music, and Best Production Design.
Beyond filmmaking, Nugroho founded the Jogja Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF), Indonesia’s leading independent film festival. He launched JAFF Market in 2024 as the festival’s first film industry platform. His collaboration with France has fostered initiatives such as the Indonesia-French Film Lab, which pairs emerging Indonesian filmmakers with French industry experts as mentors.
Since 2023, Mr. Nugroho has been Head of Cultural Programs at GIK UGM, developing projects that connect culture with education, creativity and public participation, often in collaboration with the French Embassy.
“Galin Nugroho’s filmography and leadership in Indonesia’s cultural landscape have made him one of the most influential figures in Southeast Asian cinema,” Penone said. “Thanks to his deep involvement with France, he has strengthened the ties between our film communities and strengthened cultural cooperation between our two countries.”
Nugroho’s debut feature Cinta dalam Sepotong Roti was released in 1990.
