Indonesia has officially selected Kamila Andini’s Four Seasons in Java as its submission for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards. The film, which had its world premiere in the Centrepiece programme at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2026, marks Andini’s second Oscar submission after Yuni. The selection was reported by Variety on September 15.
Four Seasons in Java follows Pertiwi, played by Putri Marino, a woman who returns to her hometown in Java after spending 20 years in prison for killing a man in self-defence during an attempted rape. Back in her village, she must confront the people, memories and consequences of her past while finding a way to rebuild her sense of belonging and peace alongside a group of fellow outcasts.
Set in a fictionalised Javanese town, the film uses a visual language reminiscent of a Western. Marino underwent extensive training in horseback riding, fighting and handling electricity for the role.
Andini has described Four Seasons in Java as her most furious work to date. Speaking to Variety at TIFF, the filmmaker said the anger emerged during her research and writing process. She has also described the story as deeply personal, focusing on finding peace and discovering oneself while questioning how society determines who is believed and who is not.
The film marks Andini’s fifth feature and her third appearance at TIFF, following The Seen and the Unseen in 2017 and Yuni in 2021. Yuni won TIFF’s Platform Prize and was also Indonesia’s Oscar submission. Andini’s Before, Now & Then competed at the Berlin International Film Festival, where Laura Basuki won the Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance. She also co-directed Netflix’s first Indonesian period drama series, Cigarette Girl, which won Best Mini-Series at the 2024 Seoul International Drama Awards.
International sales company Goodfellas, which previously handled Before, Now & Then, has boarded Four Seasons in Java for worldwide sales. The film is an international co-production involving Indonesia, Singapore, the Netherlands, Norway, Germany, France and Poland. Its development was supported through major international co-production platforms, including the Berlinale Co-Production Market, Venice Gap-Financing Market and Rotterdam’s CineMart. The project won two prizes, including the top award, at the inaugural Tokyo Gap-Financing Market in late 2025.
The Oscar selection also continues Andini’s growing presence in international cinema. The filmmaker has previously spoken about Indonesia’s position in the global film landscape, noting that the country is not always the first place international audiences associate with Asian cinema. Following Yuni’s appearance on the Academy’s shortlist, Four Seasons in Java gives Andini another opportunity to bring Indonesian cinema into the international awards conversation.
Four Seasons in Java is scheduled to open in Indonesian cinemas on October 8, 2026. The nominations for the 99th Academy Awards are expected to be announced in January 2027.
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