Jakarta, 13 March, 2026 – The Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf) expressed appreciation for the planned release of the family science fiction film Pelangi di Mars by Indonesian filmmakers during the upcoming Eid holiday. The film, which explores themes of science and technology in national cinema, is expected to enrich the creative economy, particularly the film subsector.
Deputy for Media Creativity at the Ministry of Creative Economy, Agustini Rahayu, delivered remarks at the intimate screening of the film Pelangi di Mars alongside members of the film industry at Plaza Senayan XXI, Jakarta, on Friday (March 13, 2026).
“This film demonstrates the courage of Indonesian filmmakers to explore the science fiction genre, which has been relatively underdeveloped in the national film industry. Moreover, the use of Extended Reality technology based on Unreal Engine in its production process shows that Indonesia’s film industry is capable of adopting world-class technological innovations,” said Agustini Rahayu during the intimate screening with film industry stakeholders at Plaza Senayan XXI, Jakarta, on Friday, March 13, 2026.
Agustini noted that Pelangi di Mars reflects the positive development of the film subsector, which is beginning to present a wider range of genres while utilizing increasingly advanced production technologies. She added that the Ministry of Creative Economy continues to encourage the strengthening of the national film industry ecosystem through various strategic efforts, including expanding opportunities for collaboration among creative industry players.
Doc. Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
“We hope this film can inspire more Indonesian filmmakers to continue experimenting with new technologies and deliver stories that are relevant to society. The film industry is an important part of the creative economy that we continue to promote as the new engine of growth for the national economy,” said Agustini.
According to her, the presence of family films also plays an important role in providing entertainment options that can be enjoyed across generations, especially amid increased public activities during Ramadan and Eid.
Doc. Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
“The momentum of Ramadan and Eid is an important time for people to enjoy quality entertainment with their families. Family films like Pelangi di Mars can serve as an option that is not only entertaining but also delivers messages about science, the courage to dream, and concern for the future of the Earth,” said Agustini.
Director of Pelangi di Mars, Upie Guava, explained that the idea for the film originated from a personal reflection shared with producer Dendy Reynando as parents who want to present more inspiring stories for Indonesian children.
“We grew up with many stories that inspired big dreams, such as becoming astronauts or scientists. Through Pelangi di Mars, we aim to present an adventure story closely related to science and space exploration, while also fostering curiosity among Indonesian children toward science as a foundation for a Golden Indonesia,” said Upie.
Doc. Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
Meanwhile, the film’s producer, Dendy Reynando, stated that the film was developed to provide more local family film options that can be enjoyed together by parents and children.
“Family films in Indonesia are still very limited. We want to present stories that can become a shared viewing experience between parents and children. Hopefully, this film can create a meaningful moment of togetherness for Indonesian families,” said Dendy.
“This film is created by Indonesian creators using advanced technologies such as virtual production, game engine-based animation, and motion capture, all developed with local teams. This shows that Indonesia’s creative industry has the capacity to deliver works with increasingly advanced production standards,” he added.
Doc. Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
Support for the film also comes from President Director of PT Produksi Film Negara (PFN), Riefian Fajarsyah, also known as Ifan Seventeen. He noted that Pelangi di Mars delivers positive messages for children while showcasing technological innovation in Indonesian film production.
“From the beginning, PFN decided to be involved in this project because of its strong and inspiring story potential. The film not only conveys important moral messages for children, but also utilizes technologies such as extended reality and virtual production, making it one of the first of its kind in Indonesia and even Southeast Asia. We hope this film will bring fresh momentum to the development of the national film industry,” said Ifan.
Pelangi di Mars tells the story of Pelangi, a 12-year-old girl born and raised on Mars after Earth faces a severe water crisis. Accompanied by Batik, a robot left behind by her mother, Pelangi embarks on a mission to find a rare mineral called Zeolith Omega, believed to be key to saving humanity’s future. During her journey on the red planet, she encounters abandoned robots and learns about friendship, hope, and the responsibility of safeguarding Earth’s future.
Doc. Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
Pelangi di Mars is scheduled to premiere in cinemas across Indonesia starting March 18, 2026, becoming one of the local family films released during the Ramadan period leading up to Eid.
Also present at the event were representatives from Commission VII of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), Secretary of the Ministry/Secretary of the Creative Economy Agency Dessy Ruhati, Senior Expert at the Presidential Staff Office Cheryl Anelia Tanzil, Director of Film, Animation, and Video Doni Setiawan, and Director of Television and Radio Pupung Thariq Fadhillah.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency
