Film News Today — November 8, 2026
Indonesian Horror Hit ‘Pabrik Gula’ Gets 2028 Sequel as MD Entertainment Lines Up Three Imax Films and more — today's film signal.
The world of film is abuzz with exciting developments, from sequels and remakes to innovative technologies and international collaborations. Indonesian horror fans are in for a treat, as MD Entertainment has announced a 2028 sequel to the hit film 'Pabrik Gula', with not one, but three Imax films in the pipeline. Meanwhile, at the Jakarta World Cinema festival, Cristian Mungiu's Palme d'Or winner 'Fjord' took home the audience award, and some talented short film winners were awarded debut feature funding, giving them the chance to make their mark on the industry.
As filmmakers continue to push the boundaries of storytelling, technology is playing an increasingly important role. However, some industry pioneers are warning that the rise of AI could lead to costlier filmmaking, potentially surpassing the expenses of the 35mm era. In a bid to harness the power of AI, Japan's OLM, the studio behind the 'Pokemon' anime, has developed an AI coloring tool trained on just three frames, as part of a government-backed project. Elsewhere, Papua New Guinea's most expensive film, 'Mussau: The First Song', has wrapped production and unveiled its first looks, while Indonesian filmmaker Danial Rifki is using his remake of 'The Invisible Guest' to explore themes of fear and resistance in the Suharto era. With so much happening around the globe, it's an exciting time to be a film enthusiast.
Today's signal:
• Indonesian Horror Hit ‘Pabrik Gula’ Gets 2028 Sequel as MD Entertainment Lines Up Three Imax Films (variety.com)
• Cristian Mungiu’s Palme d’Or Winner ‘Fjord’ Takes Jakarta World Cinema Audience Award as Short Film Winners Land Debut Feature Funding (variety.com)
• ‘The Invisible Guest’ Remake Director Danial Rifki on Suharto-Era Fear and Why His New Thriller Is About ‘How to Fight Back’ (variety.com)
• AI Could Make Filmmaking Costlier Than the 35mm Era, Korean Pioneers Warn at Taiwan Creative Content Fest (variety.com)
• Papua New Guinea’s Most Expensive Film, ‘Mussau: The First Song,’ Wraps Shoot, Unveils First Looks (EXCLUSIVE) (variety.com)
• ‘Pokemon’ Anime Studio OLM Trains AI Coloring Tool on Just Three Frames in Japan Government-Backed Project (variety.com)