Balinale is more than just a film festival, it’s a dynamic platform for collaboration and innovation, fostering growth in Indonesian film, television, and the broader creative economy.
As Indonesia’s international film festival and only Oscar®-qualifying event, Balinale showcases bold narratives, visionary directors, and brings the power of cinema to inspire, challenge, and unite. Every year, creatives from around the globe present their work in an immersive setting of modern cinemas, as well as traditional open-air. Whether you’re here to discover groundbreaking films, engage in thought-provoking discussions, or network with global creatives, Balinale offers a cinematic experience unlike any other.
Balinale at A Glance
A Dynamic Hub for Filmmakers, Industry Leaders and Cinephiles Bridging Cultures Through the Power of Film
178K+
Global Impressions
1000+
Industry Members Attending
97
Workshops, Seminars & Forums
100+
Country Submissions
Submissions Now Open!
Your story belongs on the international stage
Balinale welcomes creative, thought-provoking, and original films from Indonesia and around the world. Whether narrative or documentary, short or feature, animated or live-action—if it inspires, captivates, or connects, it belongs at Balinale.
Balinale is Indonesia’s only Oscar-qualifying film festival, giving your work a chance to reach the Academy and connect with diverse, international audiences in one of the world’s most inspiring cultural settings.
Submissions FILM CATEGORIES
Our Festival invites independent works that are creative, unique, and thought-provoking. All genres of films that inspire, captivate, and entertain will be considered.
Short Narrative
Brief fiction focusing on story, tone, and style.
Narrative Feature
Fictional or fictionalized story, event or narrative.
Short Documentary
Story focused on facts and real-life events.
Documentary Feature
Real-world stories told with facts and authenticity.
Short Animation
Crafted visuals telling stories frame by frame.
Balinale 2025
Official Selection
Balinale (Bali International Film Festival) proudly announces that it has been officially approved as an ACADEMY AWARDS® Qualifying Festival.
This recognition is a celebration of our past accomplishments and a commitment to our future. It will significantly boost the festival’s prominence and expand our ability to showcase a diverse range of films that celebrate stories from Indonesia and worldwide. It will also provide filmmakers with a platform to gain international recognition, find new opportunities to advance their careers, and obtain a broader audience.
Deborah Gabinetti
Balinale’s Festival Director
Past Festivals
Over the years, we’ve celebrated international collaborations, and provided a space for filmmakers to connect, learn, and grow.
FAQ
Balinale is committed to presenting a program that celebrates storytelling that inspires artists and audiences and illustrates creative freedom and expression.
Bali International Film Festival (also known as Balinale) was founded in 2007 by Deborah Gabinetti, Director of Bali Film Center (BFC), a private company established in 2002 as a trusted partner for international productions filming anywhere in Indonesia.
Balinale operates with a foundational commitment to its core values: creativity, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging. These principles guide the festival’s programming and operations, ensuring that it fosters an environment where diverse voices and artistic expressions are celebrated and supported.
Balinale is recognized as Indonesia’s first and only 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱® 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹. The festival has an international program noted for its diversity of films from around the world and for the quality of the associated events such as the Bali Film Forum where international filmmakers and Indonesian professionals discuss films, trends, co-production opportunities, and the demands of a growing, fast-paced industry.
Balinale is known for its specialized knowledge and the importance of promoting Indonesian cinema, art, and culture. The festival has a solid history of supporting established and aspiring local filmmakers through workshops and industry forums.
We showcase locally produced films as a means of illustrating the country’s artistic capabilities and true potential, and to expose Indonesia’s unique locations, diverse cultures, and talented individuals at its core.
The festival strongly supports the community with its open-air cinema, children’s program and student workshops as an important part of its platform.
Balinale seeks to expand our outreach, create additional arts education forums and events, and establish other affiliations and collaborations with like-minded institutions and organizations.
The festival holds the honor of receiving the endorsement of the National and Provincial Bali Government for its proven efforts to deliver cultural, political, and economic benefits to the country.
The 19th edition of the festival will be held in Bali 1-7 June 2026
Icon Bali Mall with screening at the Cinema XXI and other selected locations.
Asia Pacific Screen Awards, Sundance Film Forward, American Film Showcase, HK International Film Festival, Asian Film Awards Academy, and Art of the Score at The Juilliard School, Center for Creative Technology.
In 2024, Balinale was proudly officially approved as an Oscar® Qualifying Festival; winners of the Balinale Short Film Competition may now be eligible for consideration for the Oscar® competition for Best Short Film in all three categories (Narrative, Documentary and Animation).
Yes, Forums, Seminars, Panel Discussions, Educational Programs, Networking Opportunities
Bali Film Forum is a professional industry forum that delves into the multifaceted world of cinema and television with a distinguished panel of speakers holding meaningful dialogue.
The festival also holds several workshops and seminars, many of which are offered free of charge, for film students and emerging creatives.
Yes, Special Jury Award, Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best Short Narrative, Best Short Documentary, Best Short Animation, and Committee Choice Award. Plus the Gary L Hayes Award for Emerging Indonesian Filmmakers
Call for Film Submissions will be announced in November. We use FilmFreeway as the platform for accepting submissions for all categories including feature and short narrative, documentary, animation.
The festival values the collective experience of watching films in a shared setting to honor the extensive effort and craftsmanship that goes into film creation.
A combination of in-cinema screening with a number of outdoor (layer tancap) showings is an exciting way to unite international audiences and our local community.
Yes, we offer a limited number of discounts and waivers for Non-Indonesian Productions: Alumni, Invited Films.
The festival highlights films from underrepresented regions and genres with programming that showcases emerging artists
Internationally affiliated forums and events are provided to students throughout the year that aim to inspire the next generation of education arts and new emerging art forms.
The festival focuses on sustainability and eco-friendly practices and initiatives that engage the local community and support its development.
From 1,500 submissions received, there was a total of 72 films from 32 countries selected including 8 World, 25 Asian, and 16 International Premieres with 23 Indonesian films shown.
