Bali-based film production company Viking Sunset Studios makes its presence felt on the world’s biggest film market stage, standing alongside Indonesia’s Ministry of Culture and the Jakarta Provincial Government as the country asserts its place in the global film industry.
Indonesia at Cannes 2026
CANNES, FRANCE — At Cannes Film Festival 2026, Indonesia has arrived not just as a participant but as a statement. The country’s presence at Marche du Film, the world’s largest film market, is anchored by the Filming in Jakarta initiative — a bold, government-backed campaign to position Indonesia, and specifically Jakarta and Bali, as a world-class destination for international film production.
The Indonesia Pavilion at Marche du Film, designated as Booth 22.02 at the Palais des Festivals, is jointly presented by the Jakarta Provincial Government, Jakarta Film Week, and the Indonesian Ministry of Culture under Minister Fadli Zon. The pavilion signals a new era of cultural diplomacy through cinema, one in which Indonesia is no longer content to be a backdrop but insists on being a creative equal and co-production partner on the global stage.
The Filming in Jakarta initiative, introduced by the Jakarta Provincial Government and championed by Deputy Governor Rano Karno, is a strategic framework designed to open international collaboration opportunities, streamline production logistics, and invite global filmmakers to discover what Indonesia has to offer: diverse landscapes, a deeply talented local industry, government support, and an audience of over 81 million domestic filmgoers who made local films account for 67 percent of market share by 2025.
The pavilion also hosts the International Co-production and Distribution Opportunity in Indonesia forum, bringing together Indonesian film professionals and international acquisition executives, sales agents, and potential co-production partners — a direct, practical expression of Indonesia’s intent to build long-term creative and commercial bridges with the world.
Viking Sunset Studios (VSS), Bali’s premier end-to-end film production studio headquartered in Tabanan, was proud to stand alongside this delegation at the Indonesia Pavilion. Bo H. Holmgreen, Founder and CEO of Viking Sunset Studios, expressed the importance of the moment: “What Indonesia is doing at Cannes 2026 is historic. For years, the world has come to Bali and Indonesia to film. Now Indonesia is going to the world to say: come work with us, not just in our locations, but with our people, our stories, our creativity. Viking Sunset Studios is proud to be part of that conversation.”
Bali and Indonesia: A Film Production Powerhouse
Viking Sunset Studios has spent years building the infrastructure to prove that world-class production does not require a trip to Hollywood or London. From its beachfront campus in Tabanan, adjacent to the iconic Tanah Lot temple, VSS operates Southeast Asia’s largest indoor green screen soundstage: Studio L, a 26m x 25m, 12m-high fully soundproofed facility powered by dual generators and equipped with full rigging, indoor crane systems, and on-site post-production capabilities.
The studio sits within one hectare of beachfront backlot that encompasses black volcanic sand beach, rice terraces, a sea cave and cliffside Balinese temple, lush jungle with river paths, and year-round cinematic sunsets over the Indian Ocean. Fourteen purpose-built jungle sets are spread across the surrounding Tabanan landscape, accessible within minutes of the studio campus. International crews arrive by helicopter, boat, or road and find luxury bungalows, a beach villa, and full production support waiting for them.
Indonesia’s broader filming ecosystem is equally compelling. The country’s 275 million-strong population provides extraordinary casting range. Its 17,000 islands offer every conceivable landscape. Its growing local talent pool, from directors to cinematographers to production designers, has been forged on an industry that sold 81 million tickets in 2024 alone. And for international producers, VSS provides end-to-end coverage: from location scouting and permit management through to casting, crew, equipment, post-production, and distribution strategy.
A Reunion on the Croisette: The Ghost and the Gun
Amid the industry meetings and pavilion appearances, Cannes 2026 also brought something more personal for the Viking Sunset Studios team: a reunion with the production team behind The Ghost and the Gun.
The VSS delegation, led by Bo H. Holmgreen alongside Head of Finance Vivian Ikdayah and Head of Business Development Tianna Roberts, crossed paths with their collaborators from The Ghost and the Gun at a gathering on the Croisette. It was the kind of reunion that only Cannes makes possible, a spontaneous convergence of people who made something together and find themselves drawn back into each other’s orbit by the shared pull of the industry.
“There is something about the relationships forged on a film set that doesn’t fade,” said Holmgreen. “Seeing the Ghost and the Gun team here in Cannes, raising a glass together again, reminded me of exactly why we do this. Film is a people business. The best productions come from real human connection, and that is what Viking Sunset Studios is built on.”
The Ghost and the Gun represents one of the productions that has helped define the VSS creative identity, a project born from the studio’s commitment to bold, disruptive storytelling shot against the extraordinary natural and cultural canvas of Bali. The Cannes reunion signals the ongoing nature of that creative relationship and the potential for future collaboration.
Looking Forward
Viking Sunset Studios returns from Cannes 2026 with renewed conviction and expanded relationships. Indonesia is having its moment on the world stage, and VSS is positioned at the intersection of that national ambition and the global film industry’s appetite for new voices, new locations, and new creative partnerships.
The studio’s current slate includes multiple feature film projects in various stages of development and production, in addition to its ongoing involvement in the Cannes 2026 Immersive Competition film The Pirate Queen: No Safe Waters, narrated by Lucy Liu. VSS continues to expand its network of international co-production relationships and distribution partnerships across North America, Europe, and Asia.
“Bali is ready. Indonesia is ready. And Viking Sunset Studios is ready,” said Holmgreen. “Cannes 2026 has only made that clearer.”
About Viking Sunset Studios
Viking Sunset Studios is Bali’s premier full-service film production partner, headquartered at Beraban Beach, Tabanan, Bali, with offices in Sanur, Denpasar, and North Carolina, USA. The studio provides end-to-end production services from pre-production through post and distribution, including location scouting, all government and community permits, crew and casting, equipment, and VFX through its partnership with BaerFX Studios in Santa Monica, CA. VSS operates Southeast Asia’s largest indoor green screen soundstage, Studio L, and a one-hectare beachfront backlot encompassing black sand beach, rice terraces, jungle, river, and sea cave locations.
Media Contact
Viking Sunset Studios
Tabanan Campus: Beraban Beach, Selemadeg Timur, Tabanan, Bali 82162
Sanur Office: Jl. Danau Tamblingan No. 53, Sanur, Denpasar, Bali 80228
Phone / WhatsApp: +62 819 9111 4445
Email: info@vikingsunsetstudios.com
Web: vikingsunsetstudios.com
