Netanya Yemima, whose short film "The Most Handsome Fish on Earth" was shown at the 20th Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival last year, is now making her directorial debut with a new movie called "To My Dearest, My Dear...". This film has been chosen for the JAFF Future Project, which is a platform for new Asian cinema. The story follows a father named Adam, who is diagnosed with cancer in 2008 and prepares for the end of his life. But one day, he discovers a way to travel through time and jumps into the future to meet his daughter Nadia, whom he will never get to see in his lifetime.
The movie is being made in Indonesia, directed by Yemima and produced by Bela Nabila and Bayu Arief.
It is one of ten projects from the Asia-Pacific region that have been selected for the JAFF Future Project at this year's JAFF Market in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The film has already taken part in the Jakarta Film Week Producers Lab 2024 and Platform Busan 2025.
The story of "To My Dearest, My Dear..." centers on Adam, a soon-to-be father diagnosed with cancer in 2008 who is ready for the end of his life.
One day, he finds a way to travel through time and jumps to the future to meet Nadia, the daughter he never gets to see. He travels through time to make sure his wife Marsha and Nadia live the life he once dreamed of, even without him being there. When he meets Nadia at 16, he finds their relationship has broken down, and Marsha is about to marry someone else. Adam tries to understand what went wrong and gets closer to Nadia. They go on a wild mission to stop Marsha from marrying someone new, discovering a special connection between a father and daughter who were never meant to meet.
Yemima said she loved the idea for "To My Dearest, My Dear..." right away.
She believes it's a unique and powerful story about a father and daughter. She and Nabila had long discussions about their feelings and relationships with their fathers, which helped them shape the story. They realized that their different backgrounds gave the film a richer perspective and made the story more meaningful to a wider audience.
The film has grown into something deeply personal for Yemima.
She reflects on how time and life move quickly, and how nothing stays the same. But she believes love can remain strong even through life's challenges. Through the film, she wants to explore the idea of love that never fades, even when time, illness, or life itself separates people. She says this love gives strength, just like it does for Adam, whose love for his family goes on beyond life and death.
Producer Nabila, who also wrote the screenplay, highlighted the personal significance of the film.
She said it’s a meaningful debut for both Netanya and herself, not just as creators, but also as daughters. Although their father-daughter relationships are different, that contrast gave them a richer perspective in shaping Adam and Nadia’s story, allowing them to build their relationship with more depth and emotional truth.
This is the sixth time Nabila and Yemima have worked together.
Nabila said she was impressed by Yemima’s skill in balancing serious themes with a lighthearted tone, while still creating an emotional experience that resonates with audiences.
Producer Arief sees the film as a fresh alternative in the Indonesian market, where horror films are very popular.
He believes that a heartfelt, emotional story like this would be a great change for audiences. He also feels the film fits into a growing trend in Indonesian cinema that includes elements of fantasy and more thoughtful storytelling.
At the JAFF Market, the team hopes to connect with potential investors, Indonesian production companies, and international distributors.
Nabila said JAFF Future Project provides the kind of space they’ve been looking for, where these people can engage with the project. She hopes they'll feel the same passion and believe in the story as much as they do.
Yemima's previous short films include "Sunat Racing," funded by Jakarta Film Week, and "Rumah Kuta Kita," which won best film at Semester Pendek 2021.
"The Most Handsome Fish on Earth" was developed at the LOCK x Full Circle Lab 2023 and received funding from Layar Indonesiana.
The JAFF Future Project serves as both a development platform and a co-production hub, helping independent films move towards completion and distribution.
The initiative runs from November 29 to December 1 at the Jogja Expo Center in Yogyakarta as part of the 20th anniversary of the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival.
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