Balinale – Bali International Film Festival – has been officially approved as an Academy Award® Qualifying Festival.
As an Oscar® Qualifying Festival, winners of the Balinale Short Film Competition are now eligible for consideration for the Oscar® Competition in the category of “Best Short Film.”
Link to the official rules for qualification and eligibility
This prestigious status awarded to Balinale by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences augments Balinale’s reputation, which has earned over 18 years as a regional leader in cultural and film industry expansion and marks its rise to the same status as other globally recognized international film festivals.
Balinale is the first Indonesian festival to receive Oscar® qualification.
“We are thrilled to receive this honor from the Academy.” Deborah Gabinetti, Balinale’s Festival Director, said in a written statement. Adding: “This recognition is a celebration of our past accomplishments and
a commitment to our future. It will significantly boost the festival’s prominence and expand our ability to showcase a diverse range of films that celebrate stories from Indonesia and the world.”
“This recognition also provides filmmakers a platform to gain international recognition, find new opportunities to advance their careers, and obtain a broader audience,” added Gabinetti.
Balinale has a rich history of presenting many films, including documentaries, narratives, shorts, and experimental pieces. Each year, the festival receives submissions from filmmakers worldwide and screens between 60 and 80 films after committee selection.
Key factors in Balinale’s growing success are:
- The outstanding caliber of the films screened.
- Participation at Balinale by distinguished filmmakers and enthusiastic film aficionados who travel to Bali to join the multi-day event.
- Balinale’s films reflect the diversity of the festival’s programming.
- An effectively managed festival team.
- The support of contributing advisors.
- The professionalism with which the films are presented.
- The very high quality of the screening venue.
- The continuing sponsors, partners, and festival supporters
Over the years, Balinale has collaborated with various partners, contributing to this latest outstanding achievement. These collaborations include:
- Asian Film Awards Academy
- Motion Picture Association
- American Film Showcase
- Sundance Institute’s Film Forward
- Hong Kong International Film Festival
- Berlinale Spotlight Generation
- Asia Pacific Screen Awards
- Asian Film Commissions Network
- The Juilliard School – Center for Innovation in the Arts.
Commenting further, Deborah Gabinetti said: “To expand our outreach, Balinale will continue to establish affiliations and collaborations with like-minded institutions and organizations to create world-class arts education forums and a festival that highlights and nurtures the next generation of talent, further positioning Bali as a vital center of both local and international culture.”
Notable past guests at the Balinale have included:
- Palme d’Or Winner and Oscar-nominated director Roland Joffé.
- Caméra d’Or and Venice Days winning director Michael Rowe.
- Australian Film Institute Winner and Oscar-nominated producer Jan Chapman.
- Berlin International Film Festival and Locarno International Film Festival winning director Garin Nugroho.
- BAFTA-winning producer Davina Belling.
- DGA winning producer Stan Wlodkowski.
- Venice Film Festival and Cannes FIPRESCI-winning director Lee Chang-Dong.
- Golden Horse and Berlin International Film Festival-winning director Stanley Kwan.
Bali International Film Festival will be held from 1-7 June 2025.
The festival’s first call for submissions will be announced in November 2024
For more information, contact: Email or telephone +62 361 270 908
About Balinale
Bali International Film Festival (Balinale) was established in 2007. The festival is recognized internationally for its varied programming of global independent cinema and for significantly promoting Indonesian film and
creative industries through global industry events, film associations, and established professional affiliations. The national and provincial governments endorse Balinale for its proven efforts in delivering cultural, civic, and economic benefits to the country. The festival was founded by Bali Film Center (BFC), a private company that has been providing professional film and television production services in Indonesia since 2002.
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