Indonesia’s First Horror Film Using Virtual Production Technology Makes Global Debut at Marché du Film
Southeast Asia Marks a New Breakthrough in Horror Filmmaking, Technology, and International Collaboration
Jakarta, May 18, 2026 — Following its announcement as part of the production slate at the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival Market 2025 and Asia TV Forum 2025, Mandela Pictures and OMG Studios have officially released the first five still images from their upcoming mystery horror film, Bisikan Desa Gringsing.
Directed by Ivander Tedjasukmana, the film is an international co-production between Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. It also marks a historic milestone as the first Indonesian horror film to utilize virtual production (VP) technology, positioning it as one of Southeast Asia’s most ambitious genre projects to date.
The film made its international market debut at the prestigious Marché du Film 2026 during the Cannes Film Festival.
What Is Bisikan Desa Gringsing About?
Bisikan Desa Gringsing follows Hesti, portrayed by Aghniny Haque, a young woman searching for her missing father.
Her journey leads her to a mysterious village known as Desa Gringsing, where she becomes trapped in the terrifying supernatural presence of Fatimah, played by rising Indonesian actress Fatmah Nahdi.
The newly released stills reveal:
- Hesti standing before what appears to be the ominous gate leading into Desa Gringsing,
- intense moments surrounded by mysterious unconscious figures,
- and a chilling confrontation between Hesti and Fatimah.
Additional images feature Gagan, played by Surya Saputra, and Melati, portrayed by Hesti Putri.
Indonesia’s First Horror Film Using Virtual Production Technology
One of the film’s biggest highlights is its groundbreaking use of virtual production technology, making it the first Indonesian horror feature film to adopt the technique.
Using world-class LED volumetric stage technology, actors perform in front of massive high-resolution LED screens that render photorealistic digital environments in real time.
This approach allows the filmmakers to create:
- fog-filled village roads,
- haunting supernatural visions,
- oppressive rural environments,
- and cinematic horror atmospheres difficult to achieve with traditional filming methods.
The production took place at Iskandar Malaysia Studios using the virtual production facilities owned by OMG Studios.
Supported by Southeast Asian Government Creative Initiatives
The film received major regional support across Southeast Asia’s creative industry ecosystem.
Production in Malaysia was supported through the FIMI+ incentive program managed by the Studios Film Office (SFO), while Singapore support came from the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).
In Indonesia, the project also received support from the Kementerian Kebudayaan Republik Indonesia.
This collaboration demonstrates how Southeast Asian creative infrastructure and government-backed incentives can elevate Indonesian genre filmmaking to an international level.
Producers Call the Film a New Milestone for Southeast Asian Cinema
Producer Manoj K. Samtani of Mandela Pictures stated that the company remains committed to creating emotionally impactful stories while continuously innovating in production techniques.
“Bisikan Desa Gringsing is another proof of our mission to create stories that leave a lasting emotional impact beyond the cinema screen. We are thrilled to collaborate with Nick Tan and the team from OMG Studios,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Nick GC Tan emphasized the importance of technological innovation in Southeast Asian storytelling.
“Virtual production is not just technology — it is a new creative language for Southeast Asian storytelling. We are proud to pioneer its use in Indonesian cinema together with our partners,” said Nick Tan.
Cast of Bisikan Desa Gringsing
The film stars a strong ensemble cast including:
- Aghniny Haque
- Surya Saputra
- Kiki Narendra
- Iskak Khivano
- Hesti Putri
- Nina Tamam
- Fatmah Nahdi
- Iyang Darmawan
- Akun Gege
- Mian Tiara
Global Release Plans for Bisikan Desa Gringsing
The film is currently in the final stages of post-production and is scheduled for theatrical release in Indonesia in 2026, followed by releases in:
- Malaysia,
- Singapore,
- Turkey,
- and Azerbaijan.
International sales are being handled directly by Mandela Pictures during the Cannes market.
Key Creative Team
- Director & Screenwriter: Ivander Tedjasukmana
- Producers: Manoj K. Samtani, Deepak M. Samtani, Lachman G. Samtani, Nick GC Tan, Chan Pui Yin
- Cinematographer: Oki Prabowo
- Art Director: Ade
- Virtual Production Supervisor: Kelvin Koh
- Virtual Production Technical Director: Shawn Ang
- Virtual Art Directors: Tommy Tan, Mohamed Farhan
- Music Composer: Fajar Yuskemal
