Garin Nugroho

Directing

Garin Nugroho

Born 1961-06-06 · Jogjakarta, Indonesia

Garin Nugroho Riyanto (born June 6, 1961, in Yogyakarta) is a renowned Indonesian film director, screenwriter, and producer. He first gained widespread recognition after releasing his film Cinta dalam Sepotong Roti (A Slice of Love) in 1990. His works have often transcended national boundaries and earned international acclaim. One of his most notable films is Surat untuk Bidadari (Letter to an Angel) (1992), which brought him to the international film stage. Additionally, his film Daun di Atas Bantal (Leaf on a Pillow) (1998) became the first Indonesian film to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival. Garin is also well-known for other works such as Opera Jawa (2006) and Kucumbu Tubuh Indahku (Memories of My Body) (2018). His recent film, Whispers in the Dabbas (Nyanyi Sunyi dalam Rantang), premiered at the 54th International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2025. Throughout his career, Garin Nugroho has received numerous awards, including the Tempo Best Director Award in 2024 for his film Samsara. He is also recognized as a driving force behind various important cultural activities in Indonesia. With his dedication and innovation, Garin Nugroho continues to make significant contributions to the development of Indonesian cinema and culture.

Acting credits

Mr. Kim Goes to the Cinema poster
10.0

After the COVID-19 pandemic, Busan International Film Festival founder Kim Dong-ho, at eighty-five, picks up a camcorder for the first time and decides to make a documentary. His lens turns toward cinemas struggling through the crisis, as beloved theaters vanish amid dwindling audiences. Seeking to reconnect with old friends, "Mr. Kim" — now nearing ninety — travels the world to talk with filmmakers and cinephiles. Through these encounters, he reflects on cinema’s past and future, finding wisdom and resilience in a time of transformation. His journey becomes a meditation on change, memory, and the enduring spirit of film.

Mr. Kim Goes to the Cinema

2026

Archivepelago: Nursery Road poster
NR

As a director, artist Garin Nugroho consistently reflects on Indonesian culture through his films, exploring diverse perspectives—ranging from artists to the general public—regarding a culture that is gradually eroding and losing its appeal among the current generation, a trend that threatens the very loss of cultural identity.

Archivepelago: Nursery Road

2026

YK48 poster
NR

A documentary about the history of local film scene in Yogyakarta.

YK48

2022

Southeast Asian Cinema – When the Rooster Crows poster
5.0

Southeast Asia Cinema - When the rooster crows is a voice of diversity reaching for change. Brillante Mendoza, Eric Khoo, Garin Nugroho, Pen Ek Ratanaruang give voice to a region rich with traditions, ethnic groups, languages, politics, and religions. It is cinema, at its purest form, fighting for freedom of expression, documenting real lives of ordinary people, giving voice to the underdogs and the outcasts. The amalgamation of these aspects gives birth to an ultra-neo-realistic cinema language currently unique to films from this region.

Southeast Asian Cinema – When the Rooster Crows

2014

Back Up! poster
NR

After filming is complete, an editor works in a room with his assistants. The editor experiences many stressful events while editing his film.

Back Up!

Behind the camera

Samsara poster
7.6

Darta, a man from an impoverished family, is rejected by the wealthy parents of the woman he loves. Desperate, he strikes a bargain with the Monkey King, performing a dark ritual to gain wealth. However, in doing so, he accidentally curses his wife and child to a life of suffering. Rooted in Indonesian mysticism, this universal narrative explores the insatiable hunger to become something one is not and the boundaries one is willing to cross to achieve it.

Samsara

2024

Samsara poster
7.6

Darta, a man from an impoverished family, is rejected by the wealthy parents of the woman he loves. Desperate, he strikes a bargain with the Monkey King, performing a dark ritual to gain wealth. However, in doing so, he accidentally curses his wife and child to a life of suffering. Rooted in Indonesian mysticism, this universal narrative explores the insatiable hunger to become something one is not and the boundaries one is willing to cross to achieve it.

Samsara

2024

Requiem from Java poster
5.9

This is the story about Setyo, Siti and Ludiro, who were the performer of Javanese Ramayana's Wayang Wong. Setyo and Siti are spouse who live in a village by selling earthenware products. In the village, live as well Ludiro, the head of the stockyard, who is very wealthy and secretly in love with Siti. Conflicts arrived as Setyo's earthenware company is going bankrupt and Siti started to took notice in Ludiro's desire to win her love. These triangle love transform into a civil war in the village that brings not only extremity and injustice, but also the death of the loved ones.

Requiem from Java

2006

Requiem from Java poster
5.9

This is the story about Setyo, Siti and Ludiro, who were the performer of Javanese Ramayana's Wayang Wong. Setyo and Siti are spouse who live in a village by selling earthenware products. In the village, live as well Ludiro, the head of the stockyard, who is very wealthy and secretly in love with Siti. Conflicts arrived as Setyo's earthenware company is going bankrupt and Siti started to took notice in Ludiro's desire to win her love. These triangle love transform into a civil war in the village that brings not only extremity and injustice, but also the death of the loved ones.

Requiem from Java

2006

Chaotic Love Poems poster
6.0

A cheerful yet serious Indonesian Romeo and Juliet. A boy and a girl from the same district, but with difficult childhoods and other reasons not to acknowledge their love. Through the colourful and musical retro style - the 1970s came late to Indonesia - shines a chaotic political and social era.

Chaotic Love Poems

2016

Chaotic Love Poems poster
6.0

A cheerful yet serious Indonesian Romeo and Juliet. A boy and a girl from the same district, but with difficult childhoods and other reasons not to acknowledge their love. Through the colourful and musical retro style - the 1970s came late to Indonesia - shines a chaotic political and social era.

Chaotic Love Poems

2016

A Perfect Fit poster
7.3

Sparks fly when a fashion blogger in Bali meets a gifted shoemaker, leading her to question her commitment to her fiancé.

A Perfect Fit

2021

No artwork available
NR

Slank is a legendary rock band on the Indonesian scene, known for their politicized lyrics and activism, and for its fanatical fan base - known as "Slankers" - who see the band as something to coalesce around to promote peace and unity in their country. 'The Blue Generation' uniquely combines dance sequences, footage of live performances, interviews, and animations about Indonesia's political history in a gloriously energetic and inspiring manner.

The Blue Generation

2009

No artwork available
NR

Slank is a legendary rock band on the Indonesian scene, known for their politicized lyrics and activism, and for its fanatical fan base - known as "Slankers" - who see the band as something to coalesce around to promote peace and unity in their country. 'The Blue Generation' uniquely combines dance sequences, footage of live performances, interviews, and animations about Indonesia's political history in a gloriously energetic and inspiring manner.

The Blue Generation

2009

Siapa Dia poster
7.4

Layar, a popular film star who feels bored with his career wants to make a musical theater set in a family history that is always linked to Indonesian film history.

Siapa Dia

2025

Siapa Dia poster
7.4

Layar, a popular film star who feels bored with his career wants to make a musical theater set in a family history that is always linked to Indonesian film history.

Siapa Dia

2025

Kejarlah Janji poster
6.0

Pertiwi, a strong and independent woman who took care of her three children: Adam, Sekar, and Isham until they became adults and left their hometown. Her husband died after losing the village head election against his rival, Janji Upaya. The children of Pertiwi, who blamed Janji Upaya for their father's death, harbored deep feelings of resentment towards Janji Upaya.

Kejarlah Janji

2023

Nyai: A Woman from Java poster
6.5

In 1927 colonial Indonesia, a young woman trapped as a Dutch man's concubine fights for dignity in a world that sees her as nothing more than property.

Nyai: A Woman from Java

2016

Nyai: A Woman from Java poster
6.5

In 1927 colonial Indonesia, a young woman trapped as a Dutch man's concubine fights for dignity in a world that sees her as nothing more than property.

Nyai: A Woman from Java

2016

Nyai: A Woman from Java poster
6.5

In 1927 colonial Indonesia, a young woman trapped as a Dutch man's concubine fights for dignity in a world that sees her as nothing more than property.

Nyai: A Woman from Java

2016

Siklus poster
NR

The story of a dancer who finds mysterious objects in the practice room. The things that brought her gave birth to a new spirit and choreography. Things from a mysterious man who turns out to be a maestro from the past.

Siklus

2021

Siklus poster
NR

The story of a dancer who finds mysterious objects in the practice room. The things that brought her gave birth to a new spirit and choreography. Things from a mysterious man who turns out to be a maestro from the past.

Siklus

2021

Mooncake Story poster
NR

After a fateful meeting of a widow and a young entrepreneur with Alzheimer's, friendship between the two blossoms following the man's request to make traditional mooncakes.

Mooncake Story

2017

Mooncake Story poster
NR

After a fateful meeting of a widow and a young entrepreneur with Alzheimer's, friendship between the two blossoms following the man's request to make traditional mooncakes.

Mooncake Story

2017

Memories of My Body poster
6.5

Juno was just a child when his father abandoned him from their village in Central Java. Abandoned and alone, he joins a Lengger dance centre where men shape their feminine appearance and movement. The sensuality and sexuality that came from the dance, mixed with the violent sociopolitical Indonesian environment, forces Juno to move from village to village.

Memories of My Body

2019

Memories of My Body poster
6.5

Juno was just a child when his father abandoned him from their village in Central Java. Abandoned and alone, he joins a Lengger dance centre where men shape their feminine appearance and movement. The sensuality and sexuality that came from the dance, mixed with the violent sociopolitical Indonesian environment, forces Juno to move from village to village.

Memories of My Body

2019

Love in a Slice of Bread poster
8.0

Mayang, Harris, and Topan were best friends since childhood. Mayang, a columnist in a female magazine, had been married to Harris, a professional, while Topan was still single and became a photographer. Mayang and Harris went for a vacation to solve their problem. Topan was invited to join them because eventually he intended to go to the same direction. On the trip, the problems of the three unraveled. Harris had sexual difficulty because of his past trauma. Mayang, who tried to understand and help, was almost unsuccessful. Turns out Topan still harboured his childhood love for Mayang. As for the climax, Harris was suspicious towards Mayang and Topan. A film that portrays sexual problem not in a vulgar way.

Love in a Slice of Bread

1991

Love in a Slice of Bread poster
8.0

Mayang, Harris, and Topan were best friends since childhood. Mayang, a columnist in a female magazine, had been married to Harris, a professional, while Topan was still single and became a photographer. Mayang and Harris went for a vacation to solve their problem. Topan was invited to join them because eventually he intended to go to the same direction. On the trip, the problems of the three unraveled. Harris had sexual difficulty because of his past trauma. Mayang, who tried to understand and help, was almost unsuccessful. Turns out Topan still harboured his childhood love for Mayang. As for the climax, Harris was suspicious towards Mayang and Topan. A film that portrays sexual problem not in a vulgar way.

Love in a Slice of Bread

1991

Tepatilah Janji poster
NR

Adam, the Village Head who entered regional election politics brought his politics home, affecting his relationship with his wife and younger siblings. Mixed with the love affairs of the widowed Mother Earth with Mr. Janji, a widower, a former village head, the euphoria of the village residents ahead of the regional elections and political brokers and dynastic political issues that spread to the village via social media became increasingly chaotic.

Tepatilah Janji

2024