Jakarta courts Netflix at film summit to woo global producers

Jakarta is done flirting with the idea of being a film city. It just showed up with a plan, a pitch to Netflix, and actual incentives designed to move productions into the capital — not someday, but now.

Jakarta makes its move

At the APOS conference, Jakarta Vice Governor Rano Karno — yes, the same Rano Karno who started acting at nine — invited Netflix to formally partner on the Jakarta Film Summit and laid out a six-part vision to turn the city into a full-stack production hub.

"Make production easier, reduce costs, support investment, develop talent, strengthen infrastructure and create economic opportunity."

This is part of a broader 'global cinema city' push: production incentives, closer ties with major players, and a strategy to grow the creative economy by attracting international shoots and streamer spending.

What productions can expect on the ground

• Tax rebates and production incentives: Jakarta is rolling out financial perks to land shoots and keep them there, with an expanded partnership invite on the table for Netflix.
• One-stop permitting: A new 'Filming in Jakarta' portal will funnel permits, location access, traffic management, and security coordination through a single team to cut down delays.
• Full pipeline, one city: The goal is to make it possible to develop, shoot, and finish projects in Jakarta — not just location work, but post as well.
• Crew support baked in: The city is offering practical help — transportation, accommodation, mentorship, and other on-the-ground support — with a push for sustainable practices.
• Workforce development: A human resources program is being designed to upskill Indonesian talent for a fast-evolving industry.
• Tourism and jobs: The plan is framed as an economic engine, not just a cultural win, with benefits flowing to hotels, restaurants, and local businesses alongside film workers.

The Netflix piece (and a bit of context)

Netflix hasn’t publicly commented yet — it has its hands full lately with dust-ups involving Paramount and Warner Bros. — but Jakarta clearly wants a long-term relationship. The city is pitching a partnership at the Jakarta Film Summit and signaling it will make productions cheaper, faster, and easier to staff.

And there’s recent proof of concept: in January–February 2026, Netflix’s 'Extraction: Tygo' shot in Jakarta, Tangerang, and Bandung with Don Lee (Ma Dong-seok), Lisa of BLACKPINK, and Lee Jin-wook. Ma Dong-seok even sent a thank-you to Rano Karno for the help during the shoot. That’s exactly the kind of calling card the city wants more of.

Streamlining the shoot

The most practical piece here is the 'Filming in Jakarta' system. Instead of productions playing department ping-pong for weeks, one team handles permits, locations, road closures, and security. It’s basic blocking and tackling, but it’s the stuff that actually wins repeat business.

Why this matters (and what still needs to happen)

Rano Karno is pitching a sustainable, efficient, world-class ecosystem where each production doesn’t just hire actors and crew — it also lifts hotels, restaurants, local shops, and neighborhoods. Or as he put it, when the creative industry grows, Jakarta grows with it.

The ambition is clear. Now it’s about follow-through — and whether Netflix (and others) back it with sustained spend. If that happens, Jakarta has a real shot at becoming Southeast Asia’s next go-to production hub.