On the sidelines of the 12th Silk Road International Film Festival in China, Indonesian auteur Garin Nugroho delivered a bold verdict: "Hollywood is not number one."
Speaking as a jury member for the festival's top honor, the Golden Silk Road Awards, Nugroho pointed to local success stories: six of the ten highest-grossing films in Indonesia are homegrown blockbusters. "Our stories, our voices, our vision—this is what audiences really want," he told CGTN.
The director also looked back to his elementary school days, when films from the Chinese mainland lit up his imagination on the big screen. "That early love of those films taught me how powerful cinema can be as a bridge between cultures," Nugroho shared. "It showed me that film is our biggest cultural link."
Today, Nugroho urges filmmakers from Indonesia and China to build on this shared cinematic heritage. He envisions co-productions that blend local flavor with cross-border creativity—projects that can capture new markets, spark fresh collaborations and inspire young storytellers across cultures.
For a generation of global citizens craving authentic voices and diverse perspectives, the rise of local cinema signals a shift in power and possibility. As Nugroho reminds us, the next wave of worldwide hits could emerge not from Hollywood, but from vibrant film communities ready to tell their own stories.
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Indonesian director tells filmmakers: Hollywood is no longer No. 1
cgtn.com
