Leading up to Balinale 2026, The Meru Sanur hosted Road to Balinale 2026, bringing together the neighbourhood’s art-driven community for a preview of one of Bali’s most prominent and acclaimed film festivals.
In anticipation of the upcoming 19th edition of Balinale, otherwise known as Bali International Film Festival, The Meru Sanur hosted the Road to Balinale, a preview of the weeklong event set to take place on 1-7 June 2026 with ICON Bali Mall as its central hub. Taking place at Terrace Soekarno Lounge on 30 April, the evening welcomed art practitioners, filmmakers, cultural figures, and fixtures of the Sanur neighbourhood to a community-driven gathering infused with a spirit of creative exchange and rooted in the island’s heritage.
Throughout almost two decades, Balinale has continued to become a force to be reckoned with, both nationally and globally. As of 2024, it was officially approved as Indonesia’s first and only Academy Award® Qualifying Festival, cementing the programme as a gateway for local filmmakers to reach international acclaim, whether through fictional or documentary works.
Last year, Balinale reached an impressive milestone of becoming the first to screen a film in IMAX 3D on the island. After continued growth over the years, the 2026 programme features 100 films from 35 countries with 20 world premieres, 10 international premieres, and 26 Asian premieres, spread across the Short Narrative, Narrative Feature, Short Documentary, Documentary Feature, and Short Animation categories.
“Balinale has always been about more than screening films. It is about creating connections between cultures, communities, and people with stories that matter. With Road to Balinale 2026, we are pleased to begin that journey in Sanur, a place with warmth, character, and a strong sense of community,” shared Founder and Festival Director Deborah Gabinetti.
Beyond screenings, Balinale also positions itself as a bridge between up-and-coming talents and an international network of creatives through the Art of the Score by The Juilliard School initiative. Since 2021, Dr. Edward Bilous, Director of the Juilliard Center for Innovation in the Arts, has worked with the festival to connect students creating original music for visual media with filmmakers from around the world.
With the 2026 festival’s full lineup encompassing various events like the Bali Film Forum at The Meru Sanur, an OceanX screening hosted by Bali Ocean Days, Awards Night Celebrations, and an Open Air Closing Event, Balinale reinforces its characterful approach to the cinematic arts that brings together conversation, international exchange, and shared public experience.
Balinale
Jalan Mertasari, Sanur
Bali 80228, Indonesia
T: (+62) 361270908
W: balinale.com
IG: @bali.nale
