MD Pictures’ Horror Pic Set As First Southeast Asian Production Filmed For Imax; Kimo Stamboel Directs Prequel To Record-Breaking Hit 

EXCLUSIVE: Indonesia’s MD Pictures has announced that its horror prequel Badarawuhi Di Desa Penari is the first production in Southeast Asia to be filmed with Imax-certified digital cameras.

The film, which is a prequel to record-breaking hit KKN Curse Of The Dancing Village, will receive a wide Imax release across Indonesia on April 10, 2024 during the Eid holiday period. It will feature Imax-exclusive Expanded Aspect Ratio, with some scenes expanding to fill the entirety of the screen and maximizing the viewing experience.

Produced by MD Pictures’ founder Manoj Punjabi, the prequel is directed by leading Indonesian horror and action filmmaker Kimo Stamboel (Killers, Headshot, Sewu Dino), taking the reins from Awi Suryadi who directed the first film. The ensemble cast includes Aulia Sarah, Maudy Effrosina, Jourdy Pranata and Claresta Taufan, among others. The film is again set in a remote Indonesian village where a mysterious local entity is terrorizing the local population.

“Badarawuhi Di Desa Penari will become the first ‘Filmed for Imax’ release in Southeast Asia, and it is a tremendous honor for MD Pictures to once again become a pioneer for Indonesian movies,” said Punjabi, CEO and Founder of MD Pictures.

“As always, we strive continuously to solidify our dedication to shaping the future of Indonesian cinema on the global stage while spearheading cinematic innovation in the region.”

Christopher Tillman, Imax VP of International Development and Distribution, said: “We’re thrilled to collaborate with MD Pictures to bring the epic follow-up to the hit film KKN Curse Of The Dancing Village to Imax. Anticipation is at a fever pitch for this film, and we couldn’t be more excited to transport fans back to ‘desa penari’ for an unforgettable experience in Imax.”

KKN Curse Of The Dancing Village, which was adapted from a viral Twitter thread, is currently the highest-grossing local film of all time in Indonesia, with more than 10 million admissions, although another horror film, Agak Laen, is currently hot on its heels. A large population, buzzy local film industry and expanding cinema infrastructure are among the factors driving growth in this Southeast Asian market.

Badarawuhi Di Desa Penari will be released at 12 Imax locations in the Cinema XXI theatre circuit across Indonesia. “Cinema XXI is dedicated to screening high-quality movies, both domestic and international, throughout the year, including the Eid holiday period. We are excited that the Badarawuhi Di Desa Penari movie becomes the first Southeast Asian movie released as part of the exclusive filmed for Imax program,” said Cinema XXI Head of Corporate Communications Dewinta Hutagaol.

The 12 sites include the Gandaria City IMAX, Kelapa Gading IMAX, Margo City IMAX, The Park Semarang IMAX, Summarecon Mall Bandung IMAX, Bintaro Xchange 2 IMAX, Summarecon Mal Serpong IMAX, Summarecon Mal Bekasi IMAX, The Breeze IMAX, Pakuwon Mall IMAX, Tunjungan 5 IMAX, Delipark IMAX, and AEON Mall Sentul City IMAX.