inning,  Balsamo said.  This film is a labor of love and a testament to the perseverance and collaboration behind independent filmmaking. Sharing the film at Jakarta Film Week is especially meaningful. It's a moment we've been looking forward to for a long time. 

Demren, who co-founded Riva Studios, said the film was designed for families to watch side by side and discuss afterward.  We hope Bima's journey reminds audiences how much it matters to have someone believe in you, especially when your dreams feel out of reach,  she said.  Seeing both ticket releases fill so quickly is an encouraging start. We're looking forward to hearing audiences' reactions. 

Demren and Balsamo set up Riva Studios in 2022 as an independent outfit working in live action, animation and music. In 2024 it bought French animation house TeamTO.  Forza  is its first live-action feature.

Also on EST N8's TIFFCOM lineup are  Tame,  a Thai horror title from B-EST Pictures; Dean Colin Marcial's crime thriller  Jaguar,  set in Manila;  Master,  Rezwan Shahriar Sumit's winner of IFFR's Big Screen Award;  Pilgrims,  a Korean sci-fi animation from Heo Pyoungkang that was selected for Annecy; and  The Invisible Half,  a J-horror from Nishiyama Masaki.

The company, which brought together EST Studios and N8, has offices in Los Angeles and Bangkok and has sold and distributed more than 60 titles across over 100 territories. Its catalog includes  Hidden Letters,  which was shortlisted for the Oscars and nominated for an Emmy;  The Monk and the Gun,  Bhutan's Oscar entry;  A Useful Ghost,  which won the Grand Prize at Cannes Critics' Week; and  Blood Brothers,  which topped Netflix's global chart.