Palme d'Or Winner 'Fjord' Opens Jakarta World Cinema

Cristian Mungiu's Palme d'Or winner "Fjord" opened the fifth edition of Jakarta World Cinema at CGV Grand Indonesia, bringing Romania's submission for the international feature Oscar at the 2027 Academy Awards to Indonesian audiences first.

Dan Adrian Bălănescu, Romania's ambassador to Indonesia, introduced the screening. He said he was proud of the film and hoped it would speak to local audiences. He also addressed the controversy that has followed the director since Cannes.

"Many critics have criticized and accused the director, Cristian Mungiu, for, as they put it, flirting with conservative ideas. But at the same time, many critics have praised the film for being a courageous critique at the contemporary Western society," Bălănescu said.

The ambassador then quoted a Romanian interview in which Mungiu defended his position bluntly: "There's no bravery in making a movie that defends progressive left-wing values. It's outright provincial and opportunistic."

That quote does most of the ambassador's work for him. It frames "Fjord" as a film that refuses easy political categories, which is precisely the terrain on which its critical reputation now stands.

What does the film's cinematographer say?

Tudor Vladimir Panduru, the film's cinematographer and the festival's sole masterclass guest, told the audience that "Fjord" marked his third collaboration with Mungiu, after "Graduation" and "R.M.N." It was also a first in two respects: the first film they shot outside Romania, and the first in languages other than Romanian — English and Norwegian.

Panduru framed the film's stakes in personal rather than political terms.

"This film speaks about different values and perspectives in our world. So I think watching this film is important to answer a few questions for yourself, and to understand how to be a better person in the society we live in," Panduru said.

Note what neither man claimed: box office numbers, distribution deals for Indonesia, or a release date. The festival appearance is, so far, the extent of the film's local footprint.

How big is this year's festival?

The numbers are substantial for a fifth edition:

• 207 titles in the full lineup, drawn from 69 countries
• 102 films screening exclusively in theaters
• Online streaming began Oct. 6 on KlikFilm
• 120 of the 207 titles have won awards at major festivals
• 96 films come from Asian cinema
• 41 films are directed by women
• 20 films are official entries for the international feature category at the 99th Academy Awards

The festival closes Nov. 7 with the Thai horror film "Inherit."

What does this change for audiences?

For Jakarta viewers, the opening gives early access to a Palme d'Or winner that is also a live Oscar contender — one of 20 such entries in the program. For Mungiu's film, it offers a platform in Southeast Asia at a moment when Western critics remain split over its politics. The ambassador's remarks made clear that Romania intends to carry that argument, not avoid it, as the 2027 Academy Awards campaign builds.