Balinale: Meeting Space for Culture and Community
JAKARTA – The Indonesian film industry is preparing to welcome one of the most prestigious events. Ahead of the 19th edition of the Bali International Film Festival (BIFF) or better known as Balinale, an opening event titled Road to Balinale 2026 was officially held in Sanur, Bali.
This prelude event took place on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at the Terrace Soekarno Lounge, The Meru Sanur. The presence of Road to Balinale 2026 marked the start of a series of festivals which are scheduled to peak on June 1-7, 2026.
The selection of Sanur as the host is not without reason. This area is considered to have strong roots in Balinese cultural values, as well as being an ideal meeting space for international filmmakers and the local community. Road to Balinale 2026 presents a warm atmosphere on the beach, combining stories, cinema, and the spirit of creative collaboration.
Festival Director and Founder of Balinale, Deborah Gabinetti, revealed that this festival is more than just a film screening.
“Balinale is a space to build connections between cultures, communities, and between people and meaningful stories. Through Road to Balinale 2026, we begin this journey in Sanur, a place full of warmth and strong community character,” said Deborah, quoted by VOI from a media release, Monday, May 4.
One thing that makes Balinale more taken into account in the global arena is its status as an Academy Award® Qualifying Festival. Starting in 2024, Balinale officially became the only festival in Indonesia that provides opportunities for filmmakers through short film competitions to be able to advance to the Oscar® event.
For the 2026 edition, enthusiasm is very high with the inclusion of more than 1,300 works from various countries. In total, the festival will play 100 films from 35 countries. Interestingly, there will be 20 world premieres (World Premieres), 10 International Premieres, and 26 Asian Premieres.
Balinale 2026 also introduced a new award category that is quite special, namely the Best Indonesian Short ‘Tapestry of Indonesia’, as a form of real support for local filmmakers.
Not only watching movies, Balinale 2026 will also be enlivened by the presence of world creative industry figures. One of them is Dr. Edward Bilous from The Juilliard School, who will fill the Art of the Score program.
The series of events during June will be spread across several strategic points, starting from Icon Bali Mall as the center of activities, Cinema XXI, to The Meru Sanur. Various interesting agendas have also been prepared, such as:
– Bali Film Forum at The Meru Sanur.
– Bali Ocean Days which presents the screening of OceanX.
– Awards Night Celebration.
– Open Air Closing Event.
Supported by the Ministry of Culture as the main sponsor, as well as endorsement from the Ministry of Creative Economy to the Bali Provincial Government, Balinale 2026 reaffirms its position as the most important international cultural platform in Indonesia.
For you movie lovers, be sure to mark your calendar on June 1-7, 2026 to experience the euphoria of world cinema on the Island of the Gods. More information can be accessed through the official website www.balinale.com.
source: https://voi.id/en/lifestyle/573591
