Bandit to premiere at Dances With Films in Los Angeles

Adaptif Films and Viking Sunset Studios will debut the Bali-set action-thriller Bandit on June 26 at the TCL Chinese Theatre during the 29th annual Dances With Films festival. The public screening puts Indonesian filmmaking on a major Hollywood stage while opening the film to a U.S. audience.

Why it matters: - The world premiere gives an Indonesian-led thriller a public debut at one of Los Angeles’ most recognizable venues. - The screening puts Bali-based production work in front of festival audiences, industry guests and Hollywood companies. - The film’s festival slot highlights the growing visibility of international independent cinema in the U.S.

What happened: - Adaptif Films and Viking Sunset Studios announced that Bandit will have its world premiere at the 29th annual Dances With Films festival in Los Angeles. - The screening is set for Friday, June 26, at 9:15 PM at the TCL Chinese Theatre. - The premiere is an official selection of Dances With Films: LA and is open to the public. - Tickets are available through the official Dances With Films website.

The details: - Bandit is directed by Brian L. Tan, also known as “BLT.” - The story follows two friends in Bali whose lives unravel after a routine car theft reveals a dead body in the trunk. - The characters are hunted by police and gangsters as they race to escape the island before dawn. - The film stars Wafda Saifan, Roy Sungkono, Teuku Rifnu Wikana, Kiki Narendra, Mike Lucok and Bukie Mansyur. - Adaptif Films produced the film in association with Aufklärung Pictures, Naga Film and Viking Sunset Studios. - The film was shot entirely on location in Bali. - The production centers on themes of brotherhood, desperation, loyalty and survival. - The film shows a side of Bali beyond beaches and luxury resorts. - The premiere will be attended by the Hon. Purnomo A. Chandra, consul general of the Republic of Indonesia in Los Angeles, and Charles Ferdinand Hutapea, consul for creative economy affairs at the Indonesian Consulate General in Los Angeles. - Several Hollywood companies are also expected to attend, including Northern Lights, a venture established with Viking Sunset Studios in Los Angeles.

Between the lines: - The premiere positions Viking Sunset Studios as a bridge between Indonesian filmmaking and the U.S. market. - Bo H. Holmgreen, CEO of Viking Sunset Studios, framed the event as part of a broader shift toward international films and immersive technologies. - Holmgreen said the company is keeping its Bali facilities at the frontier of that evolving film landscape. - The involvement of diplomats and industry partners suggests the screening is also a networking moment for cross-border creative business.

What's next: - Bandit will screen publicly at Dances With Films on June 26. - The festival appearance could help the film build U.S. awareness ahead of any wider release or additional festival run. - Viking Sunset Studios and Adaptif Films are likely to continue using international premieres to promote Balinese storytelling to global audiences.

The bottom line: - Bandit is using a high-profile Los Angeles premiere to introduce a Bali-set action thriller, and to spotlight Indonesian film production on an international stage.