‘The East’ outfits reunite at ‘Hemelrijk’, ‘Pulang’ at JAFF Market

Indonesia’s Base Entertainment and Netherlands-based New Amsterdam are collaborating on two projects, the companies announced during the first JAFF market taking place alongside the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF) in Yogyakarta (Jogja) from 3 to 5 December.

The collaboration includes ‘Hemelrijk’, a limited series from writer-director Jim Taihuttu, who previously worked with both companies on ‘De Oost’. The second project is a feature film adaptation of the novel “Pulang” (Home) by Indonesian writer Leila Chudori.

Production of “Hemelrijk” will begin at the end of 2025, while development of “Pulang” will start in early 2025.

The announcement came during a JAFF market session focused on the recently signed co-production treaty between Indonesia and the Netherlands.

“We are excited to collaborate again with Jim Taihuttu on the ‘Hemelrijk’ series, which he wrote and will direct, and with New Amsterdam on these two projects, including the adaptation of Leila Chudori’s novel ‘Pulang (Home)’” , said Shanty Harmayn, co-CEO of Base Entertainment. “Both projects present powerful and meaningful family stories and build cultural bridges between Indonesia and the Netherlands. We look forward to continuing the success of our previous collaboration at ‘De Oost’.”

New Amsterdam producer Sander Verdonk said: “I’m really looking forward to coming back to Indonesia and recording our new co-production ‘Hemelrijk’ with the best partner a producer can dream of, Ibu Shanty Harmayn from Base Entertainment. And also co-developing and producing the adaptation of one of the best books from Indonesia, ‘Pulang’ (Home) by Leila Chudori. This will further strengthen our strong cooperation between our countries and is greatly helped by the new treaty.”