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Netflix announces slate of upcoming made-in-Indonesia films and series
Mumbai: OTT platform Netflix has announced a slate of upcoming made-in-Indonesia films and series, which it said is its most ambitious yet. The 7 new titles, spanning sci-fi thrillers, comedy, and period drama, were unveiled at the Waktu Netflix Indonesia (Time for Netflix Indonesia) event recently.
Speaking on the occasion, Netflix content lead-Indonesia Rusli Eddy said, “The Indonesian film industry has evolved rapidly in recent years. More and more creators and stories from Indonesia are now being seen and appreciated by audiences and critics around the world. Our upcoming slate from Indonesia gives you authentic and unique stories, a representation of our country that is rich with stories and cultures, and brings you high-calibre talent whose significant works have shaped the film industry.”
Since Netflix’s establishment in Indonesia in 2016, it has showcased stories such as Ali & Ratu Ratu Queens and Photocopier. The company added that the upcoming slate reflects its company’s commitment to helping the industry build compelling content from the country’s resources and taking these stories to the world.
At the end of this year, members can catch the first action-comedy film from Timo Tjahjanto called “The Big 4.” It tells the story of a by-the-book female detective who teams up with a group of down-on-their-luck assassins to investigate her father’s murder. Tjahjanto, who has signed a multi-project deal with Netflix, said, “To be able to share my story with the world, made possible by Netflix, is exciting. I cannot wait for people to see the movie.”
Showrunner Shanty Harmayn, in collaboration with directors Kamila Andini and Ifa Isfansyah, will release Netflix’s first Indonesian period drama, “Gadis Kretek,” set against the backdrop of the country’s cigarette industry in the 1960s. “Rooted in Indonesia, I believe this beautiful story will resonate with audiences everywhere,” Harmayn added.
Director Joko Anwar will unveil his new sci-fi thriller Nightmares and Daydreams, about ordinary people encountering strange phenomena. The series has multiple storylines which intersect with each other and lead to a dramatic denouement. Anwar said, “Indonesia is so full of unique and extraordinary stories. I’m always excited to have the chance to bring these stories to a wider audience, especially those that relate to the origins of our world.”
Other films and series announced include “Dear David,” an unconventional coming-of-age story, created by Muhammad Zaidy and directed by Lucky Kuswandi. Then there is a sitcom: “Klub Kecanduan Mantan” (Ex-Addicts Club) by Salman Aristo; “Hari Ini Akan Kita Ceritakan Nanti” (Today We’ll Talk About That Day), and the latest instalment from the universe “Nanti Kita Cerita tentang Hari Ini” (One Day We’ll Talk About Today) by director Angga Dwimas Sasongko. Meanwhile, Komedi Kacau (Comedy Chaos) is a series from writer, director, and comic Raditya Dika that presents a glimpse into the comedy world. Finally, there is a project with writer-director Ernest Prakasa.
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Meta plans 8,000 layoffs in new AI-led restructuring wave
First phase from May 20 may cut 10 per cent workforce amid AI pivot.
MUMBAI: At Meta, the future may be artificial but the cuts are very real. The social media giant is reportedly preparing a fresh round of layoffs, with an initial wave expected to impact around 8,000 employees as it doubles down on its artificial intelligence ambitions. According to a Reuters report, the first phase of job cuts is slated to begin on May 20, targeting roughly 10 per cent of Meta’s global workforce. With nearly 79,000 employees on its rolls as of December 31, the move marks one of the company’s most significant workforce reductions in recent years.
And this may only be the beginning. Sources indicate that additional layoffs are being planned for the second half of the year, although the scale and timing remain fluid, likely to be shaped by how Meta’s AI capabilities evolve in the coming months. Earlier reports had suggested that total cuts in 2026 could reach 20 per cent or more of its workforce.
The restructuring comes as chief executive Mark Zuckerberg continues to steer the company towards an AI-first operating model, committing hundreds of billions of dollars to the transition. Internally, this shift is already visible: teams within Reality Labs have been reorganised, engineers have been moved into a newly formed Applied AI unit, and a Meta Small Business division has been created to align with broader structural changes.
The trend is hardly isolated. Across the tech sector, companies are trimming headcount while investing aggressively in automation. Amazon, for instance, has reportedly cut around 30,000 corporate roles nearly 10 per cent of its white-collar workforce citing efficiency gains driven by AI. Data from Layoffs.fyi shows over 73,000 tech employees have already lost jobs this year, compared with 153,000 in all of 2024.
For Meta, the move echoes its earlier “year of efficiency” in 2022–23, when about 21,000 roles were eliminated amid slowing growth and market pressures. This time, however, the backdrop is different. The company is financially stronger, generating over $200 billion in revenue and $60 billion in profit last year, with shares up 3.68 per cent year-to-date though still below last summer’s peak.
That contrast underlines the shift underway. These layoffs are less about survival and more about reinvention. As Meta restructures itself around AI from autonomous coding agents to advanced machine learning systems, the question is no longer whether the company will change, but how many roles will be left unchanged when it does.
