For all its vibrancy, this ecosystem faces significant headwinds. Piracy remains a persistent and damaging issue. Sites like LK21 and IndoXXI, which offer free illegal streaming of movies and TV shows, are still popular, although they pose high risks such as malware and are a target of legal action. In response, industry leaders at the Archipelago Video Summit in Jakarta are calling for a multi-layered approach to combat what they describe as "organized crime".

The Indonesian film industry has a storied history, often reflecting the country's political climate.