Indonesian production company Mandela Pictures has revealed a new film slate and launched BN13, a genre studio dedicated to developing horror and genre content rooted in Indonesian folklore and mythology.
The Jakarta-based company revealed three feature projects set for release over the next two years: “Bisikan Desa Gringsing — Whisper of Fatimah,” “Rumah Singgah” and “Lukisan Berlumur Darah.”
“Bisikan Desa Gringsing — Whisper of Fatimah” represents a significant milestone as the first Indonesia-Singapore-Malaysia horror co-production and the first regional horror film to utilize virtual production technology. The project, produced by Mandela Pictures and OMG Studios Singapore, is written and directed by Ivander Tedjasukmana and is currently wrapping principal photography. Aghniny Haque leads the cast, joined by Surya Saputra, Kiki Narendra, Khiva Iskak and Fatmah Nahdi. Production took place at OMG Studios’ virtual production facility in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, and on location in Subang, West Java.
“Rumah Singgah” is an emotional drama centered on cancer patients pursuing their bucket list goals. The co-production between Mandela Pictures, Senara and Limelight Pictures is directed by Dyan Sunu Prastowo from a screenplay by Raditya, based on a story by Celvin Jaya Hadi. Zara Adhisty and Devano Danendra star alongside Ciccio Manassero, Messi Gusti, Dewi Irawan and Aming.
“Lukisan Berlumur Darah” will remake the 1988 Indonesian horror cult classic. The co-production between Mandela Pictures and Relate Films will be written and directed by Adriyanto Dewo, with production scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2026.
The newly established BN13 studio will focus on developing intellectual property grounded in cultural research and local folklore, with plans to produce two to three horror and genre projects annually. The studio’s initial slate includes “Istana Ratu Kidul,” “Teror Gaib Satu Malam” and “Warisan Ilmu Hitam.”
“Istana Ratu Kidul” is being developed as a cross-format property exploring the relationship between humans and the Queen of the Southern Sea, blending Javanese mythology with contemporary storytelling.
“With this new slate and the launch of BN13, we want to show how Mandela Pictures continues to drive collaboration, adopt new technologies, and craft stories that not only entertain but also leave a strong emotional imprint on audiences,” said Manoj Samtani, CEO of Mandela Pictures.
BN13 is being developed in collaboration with Dienan Silmy and Sonya Laoh, with projects designed for multiple formats including features, series, documentaries and digital content.