Riri Riza

October 2, 1970 — Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Riri Riza (born October 2, 1970) is an Indonesian director, screenwriter, and film producer known as one of the most influential filmmakers in Indonesian cinema. He studied at the Jakarta Institute of the Arts (IKJ) and later continued his studies at Royal Holloway, University of London. Riri’s career began to shine after directing Kuldesak (1998), an independent film considered a turning point for the revival of Indonesian cinema. His name became more widely recognized through films such as Eliana, Eliana (2002), Gie (2005), and Laskar Pelangi (2008), which became one of Indonesia’s highest-grossing films. He also directed other films such as Sokola Rimba (2013), Athirah (2016), and Paranoia (2021). In addition to directing, Riri is also active as a producer alongside Mira Lesmana through the production house Miles Films. Their collaboration has resulted in many high-quality films that have received both national and international recognition. Riri Riza is known for his strong storytelling and visual directing style, as well as his ability to highlight social and cultural issues in his films. With his dedication, he continues to contribute to the development of Indonesian cinema.