JAKARTA: Local businesses are exploring the concept of smaller movie theatres with more affordable ticket prices as the government pushes for alternative screening venues to address the long-standing distribution challenges facing Indonesian films.
One example is the micro cinema concept from Layar Digi, which has partnered with retail giant Alfamart, with a soft launch planned later this month.
The initiative will utilise second-floor commercial spaces in selected Alfamart outlets, while the operations and management of the micro cinemas will be handled entirely by Layar Digi.
The concept offers screening rooms with a capacity of 30 to 50 seats, opening space for independent filmmakers and local creators to showcase their work, with ticket prices starting from around Rp 15,000 (90 US cents).
In comparison, regular movie theatres typically charge between Rp 25,000 and Rp 75,000 per ticket, which can be higher on weekends or holidays.
“The micro cinema is not only a place to watch films, but also a forum for discussion, education and collaboration. We plan to expand to several cities in Indonesia, especially in areas that do not yet have access to the cinema experience,” Layar Digi CEO Victor Timothy said in a written statement on Thursday (March 5).
Rahayu Saraswati, the niece of President Prabowo Subianto, who also serves as deputy chair of Commission VII of the House of Representatives, which oversees industry, small and medium enterprises, the creative economy, tourism and public broadcasting, is also involved in the company as president commissioner.
“The concept of presenting Layar Digi in villages or small towns has actually been a long-held dream that was delayed. We want to provide more equitable access to watching films while supporting filmmakers so their works can be enjoyed more widely by the public,” Rahayu said on Thursday.
Future expansion targets 50 strategic cities across Indonesia, with the project expected to reach more than 500,000 viewers in the early stage of development.
Old screens, new opportunity
Indonesia has long had its own form of communal film entertainment through layar tancap, temporary open-air screenings that date back to the Dutch colonial era and were popular long before modern cinemas became widespread.
These screenings were typically held in village gathering spaces, particularly in rural and suburban areas, and often charged very low prices or were even free.
The popularity of layar tancap declined with the rise of television, modern cinemas, digital films and online platforms. However, Pamulang-based collector and operator Nur Iyan said interest in the business has increased again in recent years.
“Layar tancap is rising again because it has become rare. We are now in the digital era, which no longer uses projectors and prefers in-focus systems. Meanwhile, the films I collect are older ones that use 35mm projectors, which have their own uniqueness, such as the sound of the machine and the rolling film. People get really enthusiastic about it,” he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Nur Iyan now collects, maintains and preserves some 500 film titles spanning Western, Indonesian, Mandarin, Indian and Thai genres, operating screenings with a crew of two or three people.
He said the business remains popular in the outskirts and villages, serving events such as weddings, circumcision ceremonies, village festivals and nostalgia-themed gatherings.
A typical nearby event costs from Rp 2 million to Rp 2.5 million, depending on distance and operational expenses. In some areas, a single night screening can run up to five film titles, sometimes lasting until 3 a.m.
Beyond private celebrations, he has also supported government and corporate events, including annual events at the Jakarta City Council office. As micro cinema initiatives emerge, Nur said the Indonesian Film Exhibitors Association (Perpiki) had approached him to support a planned “Bioskop Rakyat” initiative, small paid cinemas in districts that may charge only Rp 10,000 to Rp 15,000 per ticket.
“They are planning to build cinemas in each subdistrict, maybe in small buildings for 40 to 50 people. It’s still a plan,” he said, adding that the screenings could use his 35mm layar tancap equipment to show nostalgic films such as Catatan Si Boy and Nagabonar.
Screen gap
Creative Economy Minister Teuku Riefky Harsya said the government was encouraging the development of “alternative screens” to expand access to national films.
“If we observe, Indonesian film production has developed significantly. Around 176 films are produced every year, and the number of viewers for national films reached more than 80 million last year. This means supply and demand actually already exist. The problem is distribution,” Riefky said on Thursday during the demonstration and first screening of the Layar Digi studio in Tangerang, Banten.
He added that currently only around 20 per cent of regencies and cities in Indonesia have access to cinemas, suggesting that new models such as micro cinemas could help reach areas without movie theatres.
During a working meeting between the Creative Economy Ministry and House Commission VII on Nov. 6, 2025, Indonesian Film Board (BPI) secretary-general Judith Dipodiputro said that with a population of more than 283 million, Indonesia has only 0.7 screens per 100,000 people, much lower than regional peers such as Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.
In late November, Riefky said President Prabowo had instructed him to work with state asset fund Danantara to design an investment-friendly business model to support cinema development.
The scheme aims to engage the broader film ecosystem while exploring incentives and regulatory support to ensure the sustainability of cinemas in regional areas.
The Creative Economy Ministry and Danantara were not immediately available for comment when the Post sought to follow up on the specific incentives and support the government plans to implement. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
