Creative Industries Film Lab and Residency - American Film Showcase 2026

Project Background, Goals, and Objectives

The Creative Industries Film Lab and Residency – American Film Showcase 2026 is a five-day public diplomacy program aligned with the American Film Showcase 2026 Envoy visit and scheduled during the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival Market 2026. The program includes two main components: Exhibition Booth: In partnership with Jogja-NETPAC, the program will secure and construct an 81m² (9m x 9m) professionally designed, interactive exhibition booth featuring American Film Showcase and Freedom 250 branding. The booth will showcase American film, U.S. technological innovation, American contributions to cinematic arts, and U.S. companies and industry standards. It will serve as the primary platform for the American Film Showcase Envoy’s public engagement, hosting expert-led panel discussions on topics including American film, digital freedom, intellectual property rights, and artificial intelligence. Residency participants may join the Envoy in the booth as panelists or demonstrators, amplifying the reach and impact of U.S.-led training. The booth may also showcase U.S. companies, technology, and innovation, and host expert-led panel discussions on topics such as American Film, digital freedom, intellectual property rights, and artificial intelligence with local and U.S. film professionals. Film Residency: The residency will bring together 30 emerging and mid-career Indonesian filmmakers for immersive, hands-on training and an American Film envoy in cinematography, directing, production design, and American technology and standards, while facilitating industry knowledge exchange through expert-led panels, production company visits, networking sessions, and university engagements. This initiative advances a strategic opportunity to deepen U.S.-Indonesia diplomacy and economic prosperity at a moment when Indonesia’s Creative Economy Ministry has identified the United States as a priority partner for its national creative ecosystem and expanding the creative economy is a part of the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. By advancing the Policy Diplomacy Strategic Plan Objective 2.1 — increasing foreign public understanding of American innovation, education, culture, and creativity — the program will build sustainable professional networks that position the United States and American technology as Indonesia's preeminent choice for creative economy development.

Project Audience(s):

• Primary: Emerging and mid-career Indonesian film professionals attending the festival, including cinematographers, production designers, sound designers, on-set crew, and emerging directors. Participants should be active practitioners positioned to immediately apply new skills, influence purchasing and production decisions, adopt American technology and industry practices, and serve as force multipliers between U.S. and Indonesian film communities.

• Secondary Audiences: Film students and faculty, production companies and studio executives, exhibitors, and media representatives present at the festival and potential commercial partners and users of American film-production technology, equipment, software, and services.

Project Goal: Establish the United States as Indonesia’s premier partner for creative economy development; showcase American excellence in cinematic arts, technology, and industry standards; strengthen business environments for U.S. film and creative economy companies and technology in Indonesia. Project Objectives:

• Objective 1: Increase Indonesian public understanding of American film contributions and innovation through a highly-visible, interactive exhibition booth and lab area featuring American Film Showcase and Freedom 250 branding at the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival Market 2026 (28–30 November 2026), resulting in engagement with at least 5,000 visitors, at least three media placements, and increased recognition of the United States as a global leader in film, technology, creativity, and entrepreneurship.

• Objective 2: Expand cross-sector film industry connections by hosting a VIP engagement event at the booth, resulting in at least 100 VIP guests — including government officials, industry leaders, and production company executives — and building sustainable networks between U.S. and Indonesian film communities.

• Objective 3: Strengthen the technical skills and professional capacity of 30 emerging Indonesian filmmakers through immersive, hands-on training in cinematography, directing, and production design, delivered by U.S. and local film experts. The training will equip participants to elevate production standards and innovation while increasing familiarity with American equipment, software, technology, safety practices, intellectual property protections, and commercially proven production methods. The program should encourage participants to view American products, expertise, and professional standards as their preferred choices for future productions.

• Objective 4: Foster direct connections between U.S. and Indonesian film professionals through expert-led panels, networking sessions, and university engagements, reinforcing association of the United States with innovation, trusted technology, and long-term economic opportunity so that the United States is understood to be Indonesia’s prime partner for creative economy development.

Substantial Involvement

The recipient organization will be responsible for day-to-day management and execution of the Creative Film Lab and Residency - American Film Showcase 2026, ensuring high-quality delivery in accordance with the approved proposal and cooperative agreement terms.

The recipient will:

• Lead overall project management and implementation.

• Develop and manage event agenda and logistics in coordination with the U.S. Embassy.

• Coordinate with the U.S. Embassy to secure booth space at the JAFF Market using available funding.

• Identify, recruit, and coordinate Indonesian speakers, moderators, and residency participants.

• Identify, recruit, and coordinate booth and design vendor for construction and dismantling.

• Design and implement communications and outreach strategies.

• Manage all financial aspects including budgeting, procurement, and financial reporting in compliance with U.S. government regulations.

• Establish and implement a monitoring and evaluation plan.

• Ensure compliance with all applicable U.S. government grant regulations, branding requirements, and reporting deadlines.

• Coordinate closely with the U.S. Embassy through regular updates and consultations.