Jakarta, March 19, 2025 – Approaching the last week of Ramadan this year, MD Pictures, an MD Entertainment Company (IDX:FILM), held a ngabuburit event with the cast of “Pabrik Gula” through the “Pesta Rakyat Pabrik Gula” event held on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at Epicentrum XXI South Jakarta at around 16.00 WIB.
“Pesta Rakyat Pabrik Gula” is one of a series of promotional events for the film “Pabrik Gula”, the latest horror production by MD Pictures directed by Awi Suryadi, which will be shown simultaneously in cinemas in Indonesia on March 31, 2025 or coinciding with the Eid moment.
The complete cast of “Pabrik Gula” also enlivened this “Pesta Rakyat” to do a meet and greet, including Arbani Yasiz, Ersya Aurelia, Erika Carlina, Bukie B. Mansyur, Wavi Zihan, Moch. Arif Alfiansyah, Benidictus Siregar, Sadana Agung, Yono Bakrie, Vonny Anggraini, Budi Ros, Dewi Pakis, Azela Putri, Hayati Azis, Gilang Devialdy, and Pratito Wibowo.
In addition to ngabuburit with the previous cast, visitors to the “Pesta Rakyat Pabrik Gula” got various kinds of art and cultural performances typical of “Pabrik Gula,” starting from the traditional kuda lumping dance to the Manten Tebu Procession which is a traditional ritual in sugar factories before entering the sugar cane grinding process.
Not only that, visitors who come to Epicentrum XXI can also enjoy a culinary feast filled with traditional snacks that evoke nostalgia for the atmosphere of hunting for Ramadan takjil in the past.
“Pesta Rakyat Pabrik Gula” takes its concept directly from the ceremonial tradition that is usually carried out by the Indonesian people, where usually, when entering the sugar cane harvest season, sugar factories in Java will hold a selamatan as a form of gratitude and prayer for a smooth harvest.
The selamatan event generally includes a sugar cane bride parade by local residents, offerings, and a night market as entertainment to close the day.
In the “Pabrik Gula” film itself, in addition to horror elements, there are strong elements of tradition and culture that are displayed throughout the film. The audience is invited to witness a complete puppet show at the sugar factory, kuda lumping, and the Manten Tebu Procession.
“In this “Pabrik Gula,” there are elements of our cultural nuances that are raised. And if you look at it, it’s a very interesting horror film that for me is not just a horror film. This is horror, drama, and there are elements of comedy that are all combined,” said producer and CEO of MD Entertainment Manoj Punjabi.
The “Pabrik Gula” filming was also carried out directly at sugar factories in Java, such as in Cirebon and Yogyakarta. Where one of them is a sugar factory that is still operating.
“We made it as realistic as possible. We waited until the harvest season so that the actors could harvest as much as 4 hectares of sugar cane. So, this is a very large production. In addition, we also shot in a real sugar factory, one of which is still operating,” said the director of “Pabrik Gula,” Awi Suryadi.
The film “Pabrik Gula” also marks a new chapter in the SimpleMan Universe by MD Pictures after previously being successful with “Curse of The Dancing Village (2022),” “Sewu Dino (2023),” to “Dancing Village: The Curse Begins (2024).”
The film, which tells the story of the terror experienced by a group of seasonal workers in a sugar factory, will be shown simultaneously in Indonesian cinemas on March 31, 2025, in various formats, from the regular version, IMAX, to 4DX.
“The first day of Eid, March 31, we will show it simultaneously throughout Indonesia. And that week also in Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei. After that, we will also release it directly in the US. What is certain is that on March 26, we are ready to leave for the LA Gala Premiere,” said producer Manoj Punjabi.
About MD Pictures
MD Pictures, an MD Entertainment Company, is a leading film studio based in Jakarta, Indonesia. As the first publicly listed film company on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), MD Pictures has been at the forefront of the entertainment industry for over two decades. Since its establishment in 2002, MD Entertainment has evolved into Indonesia’s most prolific media powerhouse, backed by a fully integrated production system and state-of-the-art facilities that cover the entire content creation pipeline. MD produces films, television and OTT programming, music, and animation — repeatedly setting industry benchmarks. With a vast library of over 200 feature films and 14,000 hours of content, MD has built a legacy of groundbreaking, award-winning productions. Notably, all intellectual property (IP) rights for MD content are wholly owned by the company.
In 2022, MD Pictures released “KKN: Curse of the Dancing Village”, which became the highest-grossing Indonesian film of all time, surpassing 10 million viewers. This monumental success has further propelled MD onto the global stage, forging international partnerships and bringing Indonesian cinema to Hollywood premieres.
Continuing its expansion, MD acquired and launched MDTV in early 2025. With this acquisition and the ownership of its own distribution platform, MD has reinforced its dominance in television, drama, and digital content, bringing high-quality storytelling to even broader audiences. For more information please visit https://linktr.ee/mdentertainmentofficial
Media Contact:
Astrid Suryatenggara (astrid@mdentertainment.com)
