Indonesia’s literary world entered a historic chapter as the country officially launched Choix Goncourt Indonesia in Jakarta on 11–12 May 2026, marking its inclusion as the 51st member of the prestigious international Choix Goncourt network. The two-day cultural program brought together diplomats, writers, filmmakers, academics, students, and journalists in a celebration of literature, translation, and cultural diplomacy between Indonesia and France.
More than a literary initiative, the event reflected Indonesia’s growing confidence in positioning itself within global intellectual and creative conversations. It also demonstrated how literature can serve as a bridge connecting education, diplomacy, cinema, and the wider creative economy.
From Diplomatic Reception to Literary Conversations
The Choix Goncourt Indonesia launch officially began on Monday, 11 May 2026, with a press conference held at the residence of the French Ambassador in Jakarta. The evening continued with a reception dinner attended by cultural figures, journalists, academics, and representatives from Indonesia’s literary and diplomatic communities.
On 12 May 2026, the program continued at Institut français d’Indonésie (IFI) Jakarta with a special Literary Café session attended exclusively by the Choix Goncourt delegates and invited journalists. The gathering provided a focused platform for discussions on literature, translation, reading culture, and the growing cultural exchange between Indonesia and France.
The program later continued with discussions involving Choix Goncourt representatives and members of the media, highlighting Indonesia’s participation in the international literary initiative. For the first time, 13 Indonesian students from seven universities will serve as jurors for Choix Goncourt Indonesia, joining a global network that has expanded to more than 50 countries since its establishment in 1998.
When Literature Meets Cinema
One of the highlights of the event took place on Tuesday evening through a special discussion titled Dari Kata ke Sinema (From Words to Cinema), exploring the relationship between literature and film adaptation. The session featured prominent Indonesian cultural figures including French novelist and Académie Goncourt President Philippe Claudel, acclaimed Indonesian writers Reda Gaudiamo and Laksmi Pamuntjak, filmmaker Ryan Adriandhy, novelist Ratih Kumala, and actress Hannah Al Rashid as moderator.
The discussion reflected Indonesia’s increasingly dynamic creative landscape, where literary works are now finding broader audiences through film and streaming adaptations. The event also illustrated how storytelling continues to evolve across platforms while maintaining its intellectual and artistic value.
The Borobudur Declaration and Cultural Diplomacy
The launch of Choix Goncourt Indonesia also followed the broader framework of the Borobudur Declaration signed by Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Prabowo Subianto in 2025. The declaration has become an important platform for strengthening cultural cooperation between Indonesia and France, particularly in literature, cinema, education, and the creative industries.
French Ambassador to Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and ASEAN Fabien Penone emphasized that the Borobudur Declaration represents a shared ambition to accelerate cultural and intellectual collaboration between the two nations. According to Penone, cultural diplomacy now plays an increasingly strategic role in strengthening bilateral relations beyond political and economic cooperation.
“The Borobudur Declaration reflects our shared ambition to accelerate cooperation in culture, education, literature, cinema, and the creative industries. We believe young people and cultural actors will play a central role in bringing Indonesia and France closer together,” Penone stated during the launch in Jakarta.
His remarks underscored how Choix Goncourt Indonesia is not simply a literary program, but part of a wider effort to deepen soft diplomacy and intellectual exchange between both countries.
Beyond Reading Statistics
Indonesia’s participation in Choix Goncourt comes at an important moment for the country’s literacy development. According to data from UNESCO and Indonesia’s National Library, the country’s youth literacy rate has surpassed 96 percent. At the same time, Indonesia continues to face challenges related to reading habits, unequal library access, and the dominance of short-form digital content.
Yet there are signs of progress. Online reading communities, literary festivals, independent publishers, and growing interest in book-to-film adaptations are helping revitalize public enthusiasm for literature among younger audiences. Programs such as Choix Goncourt Indonesia contribute to this momentum by encouraging critical reading, discussion, and interpretation rather than passive digital consumption.
Writing a New Cultural Chapter
Indonesia’s entry into the Choix Goncourt network signals more than international recognition. It reflects the country’s growing role as an active participant in global cultural discourse. The initiative opens opportunities not only for students and writers, but also for translators, publishers, filmmakers, educators, and creative professionals who can bring Indonesian and francophone stories to wider audiences.
As discussions unfolded across Jakarta during the two-day launch, one message became increasingly clear: literature still matters in an age dominated by speed and algorithms. Through Choix Goncourt Indonesia, the country is investing not only in books, but also in dialogue, imagination, and the future of cultural diplomacy itself.
