International action star Iko Uwais, known for his iconic roles in Merantau, The Raid franchise, Triple Threat, and so many other spectacular movies, is officially launching his production label, Uwais Pictures. The newly established action-focused company will present two thrilling new films at next month’s European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin, marking the company’s foray into the global film industry.
Uwais Pictures, which Uwais runs with a team of long-time collaborators, is set to extend its reach beyond local-language productions to international markets. With an emphasis on martial arts choreography and intense action sequences, the company seeks to replicate the success of Uwais’ previous modestly budgeted hits like The Raid: Redemption and The Night Comes for Us, while pushing the boundaries of global action cinema.
The two films making their debut at the EFM are Timur and Ikatan Darah, both completed and ready for sale. Timur is an action-thriller inspired by the dramatic 1996 Mapenduma hostage crisis, a real-life international incident that involved Indonesian forces conducting a high-stakes rescue mission. Directed by Uwais, this film marks his directorial debut, and it also stars him in a key role. The production is co-produced out of Indonesia and is Uwais’ first major action film in his home country.
Ikatan Darah, on the other hand, is a local-language action drama about a former martial arts athlete who must face down a dangerous network of loan sharks to save her brother from the grips of online gambling debt. Both films will be presented at the EFM by Uwais Pictures, in partnership with Gersh, and are expected to attract significant attention from global distributors and buyers.
The Jakarta-based Uwais Pictures is built around Uwais and his team, including Chief Executive Producers Ryan Santoso and Yentonius Jerriel Ho, and Chief Operating Officer Adamy Nurdin. Known for their expertise in fight choreography and stunt performance, Uwais and his team prioritize action design from the very beginning of each project, ensuring their films are packed with high-octane thrills.
“I am excited to unleash the next phase of Uwais Pictures with the release of Timur and Ikatan Darah,” said Uwais. “We are bringing a new style of action movies for audiences around the world.”
With these two highly anticipated films, Uwais Pictures is poised to make a significant mark on the action genre, bringing fresh and dynamic stories to audiences worldwide.
