Indonesian Filmmaker Garin Nugroho Receives France’s Order Of Arts & Letters

France’s Ministry of Culture has bestowed the title of Officier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, one of France’s highest cultural distinctions, on Indonesian filmmaker Garin Nugroho.
 
The decoration was presented by H.E. Fabien Penone, Ambassador of France to Indonesia, Timor-Leste and ASEAN, during the JAFF 2025 French Night held on December 1 at the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (JAFF).
 
Created in 1957, the Order of Arts and Letters honours individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to culture in France and around the world. Nugroho, who had been named Chevalier in 2015, was elevated to the rank of Officier, acknowledging the depth and influence of his career, which has helped shape Indonesian cinema and expanded its international reach.
 
Nugroho made his feature debut with Love Is In A Slice Of Bread (Cinta dalam Sepotong Roti) in 1990, while his 1998 Leaf On A Pillow (Daun di Atas Bantal) became the first Indonesian film ever selected at the Cannes film festival, where it screened in the Un Certain Regard section. His work had long resonated strongly with French audiences and institutions.
 
In 2018, Nugroho’s Memories Of My Body received the Montgolfière d’Or at the Festival des 3 Continents in Nantes. In 2023, the Musée du Quai Branly and Jacques Chirac invited him to Paris to present Opera Jawa as a large-scale cine-concert combining symphonic orchestra and gamelan ensemble.
 
French engagement with Garin’s work has remained strong. On December 10, 2025, Leaf On A Pillow is scheduled to open the ‘Panorama of Indonesian Cinema’ at the Cinémathèque Française, a major retrospective covering several decades of Indonesian filmmaking and bringing prominent Indonesian directors to Paris.
 
His latest film, Samsara (2024), a hybrid creation blending cinema, live music, Balinese tradition and contemporary forms, earned wide acclaim in Indonesia, including four Citra Awards for Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Music and Best Production Design.
 
Beyond filmmaking, Nugroho has played a role in strengthening Indonesia-France cooperation in the film sector. As founder of JAFF, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and launching JAFF Market in 2024, he has supported development of cinema culture in Indonesia, as well as launching the country’s first film industry platform.
 
His close collaboration with France has resulted in initiatives such as the Indonesia-France Film Lab, held during JAFF Market, which brought six emerging Indonesian filmmakers into mentorship with leading French professionals.
 
“Garin Nugroho’s cinematic work as well as his leadership within Indonesia’s cultural landscape, have made him one of the most influential figures of Southeast Asian cinema,” said Penone. “Thanks to his deep engagement with France, he has strengthened the ties between our film communities and reinforced the cultural cooperation between our two countries.”