Group photo of ambassadors, embassy representatives, European Union representatives, General Manager of Grand Sahid Jaya, and Co-Director of EoS 2025 (doc. EOS 2025)
Librarypost.com Jakarta / Europe on Screen (EoS), the annual European Union (EU) Film Festival, officially concluded on Sunday, 22 June 2025 at Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel, Jakarta. Marking its 25th edition, EoS continues to serve as a cultural bridge between Europe and Indonesia by showcasing 55 films from 27 European countries in seven cities: Jakarta, Bandung, Denpasar, Medan, Surabaya, Sidoarjo, and Yogyakarta. The selected film showcased the diverse themes and distinctive approaches of European cinema – reflective, humanist, and thought-provoking – while also offering audience-friendly and entertaining stories for the wider audience.
The closing ceremony was graced by the Minister of Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia, H. E. Teuku Riefky Harsya, as the honorary guest. Also in attendance were the EU Ambassador to Indonesia, H. E. Denis Chaibi, the Italian Ambassador to Indonesia, H.E. Roberto Colaminè, and the EoS 2025 Festival Co-Directors, Meninaputri Wismurti and Nauval Yazid, who shared their reflections on the festival’s silver jubilee.
“Europe on Screen has become the EU’s flagship cultural event in Indonesia, offering the audiences a window into the richness and diversity of European culture and perspectives. The festival highlights not only grand narratives, but also social issues and fundamental values reflected in everyday life, through simple yet meaningful individual stories that make European cinema distinct and deeply relevant,” said H. E. Denis Chaibi, EU Ambassador to Indonesia, at Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel Jakarta, Sunday (22/6).
Speech H.E. Denis Chaibi, EU Ambassador to Indonesia (doc. EOS 2025)
Meanwhile, the closing film for EoS 2025 was the poignant Italian drama, The Boy with Pink Pants – Il Ragazzo dai Pantaloni Rosa (2024), directed by Margherita Ferri. The film is inspired by the true story of Andrea Spezzacatena, a 15-year-old who became a victim of bullying due to his self-expression. This film was one of Italy’s box-office hits in 2024, selected as an Official Selection at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2024, and received a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay at the David di Donatello Awards 2025.
“The selection of The Boy with Pink Pants as the closing film is an honour for us,” said H. E. Roberto Colaminè, Italian Ambassador to Indonesia. “We hope this story opens a space for reflection and broadens our understanding of the importance of empathy and acceptance of diversity.”
Speech H. E. Roberto Colaminè, Italian Ambassador to Indonesia (doc. EOS 2025)
The EoS closing ceremony also served as the platform to announce the winners of the Short Film Pitching Project (SFPP), a competition dedicated to developing short film ideas and supporting emerging Indonesian filmmakers. This year’s judging panel included: Damar Ardi, producer of films such as Aum! (2021), Romantik Problematik (2022), Susuk: Kutukan Kecantikan (2023), and Pernikahan Arwah (2025). Marlina Machfud, Film Cultural Expert from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, and Sammaria Sari Simanjuntak, director of films such as Cin(T)a (2009), Demi Ucok (2012), and Tulang Belulang Tulang (2024).
“I am pleased to be involved in the judging session of EoS 2025 Short Film Pitching Project. Many finalists came from outside Jakarta, bringing fresh and bold ideas that tackle pressing social issues through their short film ideas. This proves that the Indonesian film industry is growing and not only centralised in Jakarta,” said Sammaria Simanjuntak, filmmaker and scriptwriter.
In addition, the three winners of the EoS 2025 SFPP competition and their respective prizes are the first winner, Sang Penjaga (Echoes of The Universe) by Sesarini and Lyza Anggraheni from Yogyakarta. Second winner, Pool Party by Aisyah Aulia and Adrian Fauzi from Sumedang. Third winner, In the Name of Me by Teresa Katarina and Jonathan Gradiyan from Jakarta, and special recommendation SFPP EoS 2025: Waktu Indonesia Bagian Pasifik by Dicky Karunia Abdi and M. Ilham Mustain Murda from Jayapura.
The EoS 2025 festival saw a significant achievement for the SFPP, with a record-breaking 367 submissions–an 86% increase from the previous year. Notably, 30% of these proposals came from outside Indonesia, reflecting the programme’s growing international appeal.
The atmosphere of the closing ceremony of EoS 2025 (doc. EOS 2025
Meninaputri Wismurti, EoS 2025 Festival Co-Director, said, “The Europe on Screen Short Film Pitching Project is an inclusive and creative platform for young Indonesian filmmakers to express diversity, while also serving as a space to exchange knowledge between the Indonesian and European film industries. Since its inception in 2018, SFPP has supported 20 films in seven batches of Indonesian short films. We hope the audience, media, and our festival partners can continuously support this programme.”
On the other hand, Nauval Yazid, EoS 2025 Festival Co-Director, added, “Short films produced through SFPP have been screened in various festivals in Indonesia and abroad. This reinforces our commitment to raising the quality of submissions and the short films produced. We aim to ensure that this programme remains a vital part of EoS’s mission to build a sustainable cinema ecosystem.”
Ultimately, EoS 2025 is more than just a film festival–it is a public platform that celebrates the power of cinema to share life experiences, foster cross-cultural understanding, and amplify stories that deserve to be seen and heard, said Nauval. (EDITOR BY OKL)