Joko Anwar Unveils International Teaser for Berlin-Bound Horror-Comedy Ghost in the Cell

Joko Anwar’s Ghost in the Cell blends prison-set horror with sharp social allegory ahead of its Berlin premiere. Come and See Pictures (Variety)

Indonesian genre heavyweight Joko Anwar has unveiled the international teaser for his latest feature, Ghost in the Cell, ahead of the film’s world premiere in the Forum section of the Berlin Film Festival.

The horror-comedy is set inside an Indonesian correctional facility, where the arrival of a mysterious new inmate triggers a wave of violent deaths tied to a supernatural entity that targets prisoners with the darkest aura. As fear spreads through the cell blocks, inmates are forced to confront a grim reality: survival may depend on cooperation rather than isolation.

While Ghost in the Cell leans into genre spectacle, Anwar continues his long-standing approach of embedding social commentary beneath the surface. According to the director, the film’s haunting presence reflects Indonesia’s ongoing deforestation crisis and the widespread silence surrounding it. The ghost, Anwar explains, represents not only a supernatural threat, but the consequences of neglect and collective denial.

The film reunites Anwar with producer Tia Hasibuan through their Come and See Pictures banner, alongside Rapi Films and South Korea’s Barunson E&A, best known internationally for backing Parasite. Barunson E&A is handling worldwide sales under a two-year partnership with Come and See Pictures.

Ghost in the Cell features an ensemble cast including Abimana Aryasatya, Lukman Sardi, Bront Palarae, Aming, Rio Dewanto, Morgan Oey, and Tora Sudiro. The Indonesia–South Korea co-production is currently slated for a domestic theatrical release in the second quarter of 2026.

Following recent projects such as Netflix’s Joko Anwar’s Nightmares and Daydreams and Amazon MGM Studios’ The Siege at Thorn High, Ghost in the Cell positions Anwar once again at the intersection of sharp political allegory and accessible genre filmmaking. With its Berlin debut imminent, the film is already shaping up as one of the more provocative genre premieres on the 2026 festival circuit.