In a historic milestone for international cinema, the Indonesian action thriller Bandit captured the Grand Jury Prize at the prestigious Dances With Films (DWF) festival during its world premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Rising above 279 competing films in an unrestricted open category, Bandit is celebrated as potentially the first Indonesian film in history to secure a major American film festival’s top overall prize, rather than being restricted to foreign language or genre-specific categories.
The victory marked a double celebration for director Brian L. Tan (BLT), who accepted the honor on his birthday. Produced by Adaptif Films and Bali-based Viking Sunset Studios, the movie follows two friends into Bali’s criminal underworld after they steal a vehicle and discover a dead body in the trunk.
Viking Sunset Studios CEO Bo H. Holmgreen praised the film’s exceptional pacing and breathtaking cinematography by Austin Ahlborg, which beautifully showcased Bali on the big screen. The landmark screening drew standing ovations from the packed Hollywood audience and was attended by high-ranking international dignitaries, cementing the win as a major triumph for Indonesian cultural diplomacy and creativity.