Timo Tjahjanto, The Big 4

Source: Netflix

Timo Tjahjanto (left) on set of ‘The Big 4’

Netflix has announced its most ambitious slate of upcoming Indonesian films and series from local directors including Timo Tjahjanto, Kamila Andini and Joko Anwar.

The line-up of three features and four series were unveiled at Netflix’s first-ever Indonesian slate event, held in Jakarta, with the local-language original set for release in 2022 and 2023.

First up is feature The Big 4, marking the first action comedy from Timo, who is one half of the Mo Brothers known for their action thrillers Killers and Headshot. In the upcoming film, set for release toward the end of this year, a female detective teams up with four retired assassins to investigate her father’s murder. Timo has a multi-project deal with Netflix.

The other films on the slate are Dear David, a coming-of-age story created by Muhammad Zaidy and directed by Lucky Kuswandi about a model student who runs a secret fantasy blog; and director Angga Dwimas Sasongko’s Today We’ll Talk About That Day (Hari Ini Akan Kita Ceritakan Nanti), a prequel to his family drama One Day We’ll Talk About Today (Nanti Kita Cerita Tentang Hari Ini).

Also announced was Netflix’s first Indonesian period drama series, Gadis Kretek, led by showrunner Shanty Harmayn with directors Kamila and Ifa Isfansyah.

Based on the novel by Ratih Kumala, the epic romance is set against the backdrop of the country’s cigarette industry in the 1960s. The husband-and-wife team Kamila and Ifa have won international acclaim for their recent films Before, Now & Then, which won a Silver Bear at this year’s Berlinale, and Yuni, which won the top Platform prize at Toronto 2021.

Prolific genre filmmaker Joko, whose horror Impertigore played Sundance in 2020, is one of the directors and writers of Nightmares And Daydreams, a sci-fi thriller series about ordinary people encountering strange phenomena. With multiple storylines that intersect with each other, it is co-directed by Upi Avianto, Randolph Zaini and Ray Pakpahan.

Rounding out the slate are quirky sitcom Ex-Addicts Club (Klub Kecanduan Mantan) directed by Kuntz Agus and Bambang Kuntara Mukti and written by Salman Aristo; and Comedy Chaos (Komedi Kacau) from writer, director and comedian Raditya Dika, which follows a man who juggles his comedy club and married life.

“The Indonesian film industry has evolved rapidly in recent years,” said Rusli Eddy, Netflix’s content lead in Indonesia. “More and more creators and stories from Indonesia are now being seen and appreciated by audiences and critics around the world.

“Our upcoming slate from Indonesia gives you authentic and unique stories, a representation of our country that is rich with stories and cultures, and brings you high-calibre talent whose significant works have shaped the film industry.”

Following its launch in Indonesia in 2016, some of Netflix’s most popular titles in the country have included Ali & Ratu Ratu Queens directed by Lucky, and Photocopier by Wregas Bhanuteja.