Indonesia, Malaysia push joint film and music to deepen cultural ties

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4 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia and Malaysia are seeking to deepen bilateral cultural cooperation through joint film and music productions and efforts to preserve their shared cultural heritage.

The commitment was made during a bilateral meeting between Indonesian Minister of Culture Fadli Zon and Malaysian Minister of Communications Ahmad Fahmi bin Mohamed Fadzil.

In an official statement released on Wednesday, Zon noted that deep-rooted historical, linguistic, and cultural ties provide a solid foundation for more concrete partnerships between the two neighboring Southeast Asian countries.

“We need to translate this close bond into tangible programs, both through creative industry collaborations and joint efforts to preserve and introduce our shared heritage to the world,” he said.

In the film sector, Zon advocated for co-productions to expand commercial opportunities for filmmakers in both countries. He noted that Indonesia’s national cultural endowment fund could potentially help finance joint film projects.

The proposed creative partnership would also cover talent development, the strengthening of regional production ecosystems, and broader distribution opportunities at international film festivals and in global markets.

“The film and music industries hold enormous potential to bolster our bilateral relations. We can create more opportunities for filmmakers and musicians to collaborate across borders while expanding the global reach of Indonesian and Malaysian works,” Zon added.

Regarding heritage preservation, the ministers explored joint initiatives focusing on Malay cultural heritage, including the preservation of oral traditions, the digitization of classical manuscripts, and the revitalization of the Jawi script, an Arabic-based writing system historically used across the archipelago.

The discussions also covered potential joint nominations for inscription on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage lists, building on previous successful joint nominations by the two countries.

Zon stressed that these agreements should produce tangible public benefits, including jointly organized Malay cultural festivals and other initiatives benefiting both countries.

Malaysian Communications Minister Ahmad Fahmi bin Mohamed Fadzil welcomed the initiative, highlighting the deep cultural ties between the two nations.

“We share common roots, history, cultural heritage, and values. There are boundless opportunities to collaborate, not only through people-to-people exchanges but also through institutional initiatives that we can develop together,” Fahmi said.

He underscored the importance of leveraging digital technology to connect younger audiences with their cultural roots while calling for sustainable financing, good governance, and structured talent development in the creative sector.

“By strengthening our collaborations and co-productions, we can create greater commercial opportunities for our creative industry players and help productions from both nations reach wider global markets,” Fahmi remarked.