Indonesian production company Mandela Pictures has announced new film initiatives and launched BN13, a genre studio specializing in developing horror and genre content rooted in Indonesian folklore and mythology.
The Jakarta-based company has revealed three feature-length projects scheduled for release over the next two years: “Bisikan Desa Gringsing – Whisper of Fatimah,” “Rumah Singgah” and “Lukisan Berlumur Darah.”
“Bishkan Desa Grinsing – Whispers of Fatima” marks a significant milestone as the first joint horror production between Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, and the first regional horror film to utilize virtual production technology. The project is produced by Mandela Pictures and OMG Studios Singapore, written and directed by Evander Tejaskmana, and has currently completed principal photography. Agnini Haq leads the cast, co-starring Surya Saputra, Kiki Narendra, Khiva Iskak and Fatma Nahdi. Production took place at OMG Studios’ virtual production facility in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, and on location in Subang, West Java.
“Rumah Singgah” is a moving drama centered around a cancer patient pursuing a bucket list goal. A co-production between Mandela Pictures, Senara and Limelight Pictures, the film will be directed by Dian Sunu Plastow from a script written by Raditya based on the original story by Selvin Jaya Hadi. Zara Adisti and Devano Dhanendra will co-star with Ciccio Manasero, Messi Gusti, Dewi Irawan and Aming.
“Lukisan Berulmul Dara” is a remake of the 1988 Indonesian horror cult classic. The Mandela Pictures and Related Films co-production is written and directed by Adrianto Dewo and is expected to begin production in the second quarter of 2026.
The newly formed BN13 studio plans to produce two to three horror and genre projects per year, with a focus on developing intellectual property based on cultural research and local folklore. The studio’s early works include ‘Istana Ratu Kidul’, ‘Teror Gaib Satu Malam’ and ‘Warisan Ilmu Hitam’.
‘Istana Ratu Kidul’ is being developed as a cross-format property that fuses Javanese mythology and modern storytelling to explore the relationship between humans and the Queen of the South Sea.
Manoj Samtani, CEO of Mandela Pictures, said: “With this new direction and the release of BN13, we hope to demonstrate how Mandela Pictures continues to foster collaboration, embrace new technology and craft stories that not only entertain audiences but also leave a strong emotional imprint.”
BN13 is being developed in collaboration with Dienan Silmy and Sonya Laoh, with projects designed for multiple formats including features, series, documentaries and digital content.
