Indonesian cinema legend launches ‘Spirit of the Kantil’ at Cannes

Garin Nugroho weaves a tale of love, jealousy, and self-discovery in 1950s Indonesia, explores complexities of human desire

CANNES, France (MNTV) – Celebrated Indonesian filmmaker Garin Nugroho, one of Southeast Asia’s most important cinematic voices, has unveiled his latest production venture at the Cannes Market alongside director Razka Robby Ertanto, reports Variety magazine.

“Spirit of the Kantil” (also titled “Bedoyo”), produced by Summerland Film Production, is a drama deeply rooted in Javanese mystical traditions, with Nugroho serving as both writer and producer.

Nugroho, whose groundbreaking career spans decades with acclaimed works such as “Opera Jawa” (2006), “Serambi” (2005), and the recent “Samsara” (2024), has consistently pushed the boundaries of Southeast Asian cinema. 

His films have been featured at prestigious festivals including Cannes, Venice, and Berlin, establishing him as a vital voice in world cinema and a dedicated champion of Indonesian cultural storytelling.

The film explores the complex intersection of beauty, power, and tradition in 1950s Indonesia through a triangle of desire and mysticism. 

The characters include: Adista, a wealthy woman who masters the art of attraction through kantil flowers; Citresa, a breathtakingly beautiful bedoyo dancer born beneath a kantil tree; and Kripala, Citresa’s husband and a struggling composer. 

As Adista draws Citresa into her world of ancient rituals and ceremonies, their relationship deepens while Kripala spirals into jealousy and destructive rage.

“I envision ‘Spirit of the Kantil’ as a spell in the language of traditions, mysticism and desire,” Ertanto says. 

“Rooted in the esoteric world of Javanese rituals and metaphysics, it is an exploration of the forces that govern beauty and possession.”

Ertanto’s previous works include “Midnight in Bali” (2025) and “Yohanna” (2024). 

The project will be co-produced by Gita Fara Praditya of Summerland Film Production, whose credits include the acclaimed “Before, Now & Then” (2022) and “The Seen and Unseen” (2017).

As a producer, Nugroho has nurtured a new wave of Indonesian cinema, backing significant works like Mouly Surya’s “Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts” (2017) and Kamila Andini’s “The Seen and Unseen” (2017), continuing his legacy of mentorship and cultural preservation.

Nugroho frames the project as both a celebration of Javanese heritage and a critique of contemporary society. 

With development costs estimated at $30,000 and a total production budget of approximately $1 million, the team is pursuing a mixed financing structure including private equity, film grants, and international co-productions, with the Cannes Market presentation serving as a key step in securing partners. 

Principal photography is tentatively scheduled to begin in January 2027.