Bogor, August 7, 2026 – Minister of Creative Economy/Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), Teuku Riefky Harsya, visited the filming location of the international film Happy Eyes at Taman Safari Indonesia, Cisarua, Bogor. The film is a global-scale production collaboration between French film company Moana Films and Indonesian film studio Jungle Run Productions.
Minister of Creative Economy/Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), Teuku Riefky Harsya (left), speaks with Director of Institut Français Indonesia (IFI), Jules Irrmann (right), while visiting the filming location of the international film Happy Eyes at Taman Safari Indonesia, Cisarua, Bogor, West Java, on August 7, 2026.
The visit aimed to directly observe the production process of an international film while strengthening the government’s commitment to positioning Indonesia as a leading destination for international film shoots.
During the visit, the Minister of Creative Economy said that Indonesia is open to filmmakers and production houses from various countries seeking to produce films in the country. According to him, Indonesia’s natural wealth, biodiversity, cultural diversity, and availability of competent local talent are key attractions that make the country an appealing location for international film productions.
“Indonesia wants to further open its doors to film productions from various countries. Today, we are witnessing a production team from France, with strong support from the management of Taman Safari Indonesia. Of course, we want Indonesian culture, nature, production crews, and talents to collaborate even more, because collaboration not only promotes Indonesia, but also facilitates knowledge and technology transfer, along with many other benefits to support Indonesia’s film industry as part of our diplomacy on the international stage,” said the Minister of Creative Economy on Friday (7/8).
Filming for Happy Eyes is taking place entirely in Indonesia over approximately 40 days, with the main locations at Taman Safari Bogor and Tanjung Lesung, Banten. The production involves approximately 40 foreign crew members and 180 Indonesian crew members. The Ministry of Creative Economy emphasized that international film productions in Indonesia generate a significant multiplier effect, both for the national and regional economies.
Documentation: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
International film productions not only create employment opportunities for local workers, but also stimulate the accommodation, hospitality, culinary, MSME, transportation, logistics, and tourism sectors, potentially contributing to increased tourist visits following the film’s release.
Beyond the short-term economic impact, the presence of foreign film productions also directly contributes to increasing foreign investment (Foreign Direct Investment) in the film subsector. The government, through the Ministry of Creative Economy, remains committed to providing full support and facilitating ease of access for foreign creative industry players seeking to produce in Indonesia. Strategic measures continue to be strengthened, including inter-agency coordination and support in facilitating licensing processes.
“In providing support for international film productions such as this, we also continue to collaborate so that we can facilitate various requirements, whether related to visas, permits, or the entry and subsequent re-export of production equipment. This is the government’s role so that investment in Indonesia’s film industry can continue to grow,” the Minister of Creative Economy concluded.
Executive Producer of Happy Eyes, Joe Yaggi, said that the production involved more than 200 crew members, with 70 percent coming from Indonesia. Joe expressed his hope that more international films would choose Indonesia as a production destination.
“I greatly appreciate the support from Ekraf (Ministry of Creative Economy) and all the ministries that have supported us with this film. Our crew consists of around 200 people, 70% of whom are from Indonesia. The French crew have really enjoyed working with our crew. Not only have they enjoyed working with them, but they have also been very impressed. So, we have an opportunity here, and I hope there will be more productions like this because our crew can work at an international level,” said Joe.
Documentation: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
President Director of Taman Safari Indonesia, Aswin Sumampau, said that film productions such as this serve as a form of storytelling that can promote conservation, one of the main pillars of Taman Safari Indonesia.
“This is a form of storytelling that can be used to promote conservation, which is one of Taman Safari Indonesia’s main pillars. Being part of major initiatives like this is a dream for Taman Safari moving forward. I am confident that Indonesia’s creative economy will continue to advance in the future,” said Aswin.
Also present on the occasion were Director of Tourism, Creative Economy, and Digital Economy at the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas), Wahyu Wijayanto; Senior Expert at the Presidential Staff Office (KSP), Cheryl Tanzil; Director of Institut Français Indonesia (IFI), Jules Irrmann; Executive Producer of Moana Films, Christine de Jekel; Director of Happy Eyes, Gilles de Maistre; Line Producer of Happy Eyes, Chali Sakyan; and a representative of the Directorate of Investment and Creative Economy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Minister of Creative Economy was accompanied by Deputy for Media Creativity, Cecep Rukendi; Minister’s Special Staff for Strategic Affairs and Inter-Institutional Relations, Rian Syaf; Acting Deputy for Strategic Creative Economy Development and Director of Strategic Studies and Management, Agus Syarip Hidayat; and Director of Film, Animation, and Video, Doni Setiawan.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
