Polen Ly’s 'Becoming Human' Takes Top Honors at the Record-Breaking JAFF 2025

The 2025 Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF) concluded its landmark 20th anniversary edition with a powerful statement, awarding the prestigious Golden Hanoman, the festival's top prize, to Becoming Human, directed by Cambodian filmmaker Polen Ly.

This year's JAFF proved to be historic on multiple fronts. The festival officially became its largest and most monumental edition yet, welcoming over 30,000 visitors and continuing a consistent trend of annual growth. Festival Director Ifa Isfansyah reflected on the two-decade milestone, emphasizing that JAFF’s success is a collective effort rooted in togetherness, celebration, and trust. However, he also acknowledged the emerging challenges facing the film industry in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Isfansyah underscored the critical urgency of strengthening film archiving initiatives and strategically rethinking the sustainability of the Asian film ecosystem for the future.

Over the course of eight days, the festival presented an expansive selection of 227 titles originating from 43 countries. The impressive programming included 27 world premieres and 87 Indonesian premieres. The screenings were complemented by 47 discussions and public forums, many of which continued late into the night, signaling overwhelming audience engagement and enthusiasm. JAFF Program Director Alexander Matius specifically praised the vitality and depth of this year’s dialogues, asserting the festival’s evolving status as an increasingly essential venue for cinematic exchange.

In anticipating the future, Executive Director Ajish Dibyo highlighted JAFF’s enduring foundation as a volunteer-driven movement, noting that the growing involvement of younger generations is key to its long-term sustainability. The festival also maintained its commitment to environmental responsibility, with waste management efforts for this year’s edition successfully processing over 1,500 kilograms of materials.