Viking Sunset Studios Showcases International Festival Hits Bandit and Semusim at the Dili International Film Festival

Poster for the love drama SEMUSIM

Bandit movie poster

Aerial View of the Viking Sunset Studios Resort

Villa and Studios at Viking Sunset Studios, Bali Indonesia

A Tale of Two Young Nations: Bridging Indonesia and Timor-Leste Through Cinema and Shared Generation

DILI, BALI, EAST TIMOR, October 1, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Viking Sunset Studios (VSS), Southeast Asia’s premier oceanfront production facility, announced today that it is presenting two of its standout feature films at the Dili International Film Festival: the award-winning action thriller Bandit and the sweeping romantic drama Semusim.

The festival selections bring high-caliber, diverse storytelling from Bali directly to audiences in Timor-Leste, staging two contrasting cinematic experiences: an open-air oceanside screening of Bandit at the beachside cinema in Metiaut, and an indoor theatrical showcase of Semusim at Platinum Cineplex, Dili.

High-Octane Action Meets Cinematic Romance Across Bali’s Majestic Landscapes
Both productions showcase how the untamed grandeur of Bali serves as a powerful cinematic canvas—leveraging the island's majestic environments for two completely different genres: high-stakes, adrenaline-fueled action and visually breathtaking romance.

Fresh off a celebrated run across American film festivals, Bandit arrives in Dili carrying significant international momentum. The fast-paced action thriller won the Grand Jury Prize at the prestigious Dances With Films festival at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, followed shortly by winning Best Foreign Film at the Burbank International Film Festival.

Directed by Brian L. Tan, who is on the ground in Dili to present the screening, Bandit brings high-octane chases, brutal combat, and kinetic energy into Bali’s iconic terrain—from tense midnight pursuits along winding volcanic coastal roads and shadowy jungle corridors to heart-stopping showdowns set against crashing ocean surf and dramatic cliffside backdrops. The gritty heist thriller features explosive performances from an acclaimed Indonesian cast, including Wafda Saifan, Roy Sungkono, Rifnu Wikana, Claresta Taufan, and Kiki Narendra. It will screen under the stars at Metiaut’s beachside cinema.

“Screening Bandit here in Timor-Leste on the sands of Metiaut brings cinema back to its most raw and communal element,” said Brian L. Tan, Director of Bandit. “Following our incredible receptions in Hollywood and Burbank, coming to Dili to share this energy directly with local film lovers is truly inspiring.”

In stark emotional and aesthetic contrast, Semusim utilizes Bali's natural splendor to tell an intimate, poetic love story. Featuring a powerhouse ensemble cast including Pangeran Lantang, Kania Atmaja, renowned leading actor Chicco Jerikho, and acclaimed star Rizky Hanggono, alongside notable appearances by Dennis Adhiswara and Masayu Anastasia, the film captures the Island of the Gods in its full romantic majesty—from roaring volcanic black-sand coastlines and dramatic sea cliffs to emerald, cascading rice terraces and serene mountain passes.

Against this sweeping backdrop, Semusim by Bo H. Holmgreen chronicles the collision of two contrasting worlds: a wealthy, fast-living young man speeding through life in a luxury sports car, and a grounded, emotionally intuitive woman whose presence begins to reveal life’s genuine depth, stillness, and vulnerability. The emotional heartbeat of the film is powered by Indonesian music legend Marcell’s timeless ballad “Semusim,” which weaves melodically throughout the narrative as an evocative leitmotif reflecting the seasons of transformation and love. Semusim will screen at the Platinum Cineplex in Dili.
“Semusim is a wonderful love story that truly captures the heartbeat and spirit of the youth in both Indonesia and Timor-Leste,” continued Mr. Holmgreen “Both nations share something incredibly vital: a young, vibrant population with a median age of just 26. This generation feels deeply, questions the world around them, and searches for genuine purpose and connection. Semusim reflects those exact dilemmas—material success versus emotional depth, fast living versus finding true love. Bringing that resonance to Timor-Leste is deeply meaningful to us, and it was funny when the CEO of the film festival called me to ask how on earth I could create such a Gen Z film?”

Fostering Regional Cinema & Creative Exchange

The dual presentation reflects Viking Sunset Studios’ dedication to cultivating regional storytelling, international co-productions, and cinematic arts across Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

“Film is uniquely capable of crossing borders and uniting regional storytelling,” said Bo H. Holmgreen, CEO of Viking Sunset Studios. “We just returned from the world premiere of our Malaysian wartime feature, The Ghost and the Gun, in Kuala Lumpur, and will launch it theatrically in Indonesia next month. For that project, we flew the entire Malaysian cast over to Bali, built 14 full-scale historical sets recreating 1948 Malaysia right on our studio grounds, and lensed the entire movie in Bali. That same production scale and versatility extends to our festival slate here in Dili. Both Bandit and Semusim demonstrate what regional cinema can achieve when supported by world-class infrastructure—whether ripping through the island’s dramatic topography in an action thriller or capturing its poetic beauty in a romance. Sharing these two films with the people of Timor-Leste, from Metiaut beach to Platinum Cineplex, is an absolute honor.”

“Welcoming Viking Sunset Studios, Bo H. Holmgreen, and director Brian L. Tan to Dili is a monumental highlight for our festival,” stated Lena Lentzen, CEO of the Dili International Film Festival. “Featuring award-winning international spectacles like Bandit alongside visually stunning, heartfelt dramas like Semusim sets a high bar for our program. This creative exchange demonstrates what regional filmmakers can accomplish and inspires the emerging creative voices here in Timor-Leste.”

About Viking Sunset Studios

Perched along the dramatic black-sand coastline of Beraban Beach in Tabanan, Bali, Viking Sunset Studios (VSS) is Southeast Asia’s flagship creative hub and beachfront movie resort, purpose-built for international feature films, premium television series, and high-end commercial productions.
At the center of its infrastructure is Indonesia’s largest professional soundstage, complemented by an expansive L-shaped Limbo green-screen cyclorama, industry-leading ARRI cinema camera packages, Leica prime cinematography glass, cutting-edge lighting grids, soundproof recording environments, and comprehensive offline and online post-production suites. VSS provides an end-to-end ecosystem where international productions can build complex period backlots—from 1940s historical villages to modern bespoke stages—under one seamless production umbrella.
Beyond its technical capabilities, Viking Sunset Studios is designed as a sanctuary to inspire filmmakers. The studio resort features an expansive beachfront campus, high-end production villas, a panoramic 35-meter oceanfront swimming pool, and the signature SAGA Restaurant & Bar, where cast, crew, and creators can collaborate against the backdrop of legendary Indian Ocean sunsets. By blending world-class technical facilities with Bali’s extraordinary natural beauty, Viking Sunset Studios continues to pioneer the island's emergence as an elite international film production capital.

Turid Kaehny
Viking Sunset Studios
+1 919-454-7599
turid.kaehny@vikingsunsetstudios.com
Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube