Bayu Skak Weaves Social Criticism into Sci-Fi Comedy 'Foufo'

Jakarta, Indonesia – Director and comedian Bayu Skak is set to release his new science-fiction comedy film, "Foufo," which blends Madurese culture with a poignant social message. The film, scheduled for release on July 9, 2026, delves into themes of family warmth and affection for mothers, alongside a critique of the welfare of contract teachers in Indonesia.

"Foufo" centers on aliens making an emergency landing in Madura. However, Bayu Skak emphasized that the film's core message extends beyond this premise. "Essentially, there are aliens who crash-land in Madura, but the essence of this film is much deeper than that. The film is also about family warmth and love for mothers," Skak stated during a media visit to Republika on Friday, June 19, 2026.

A significant aspect of the film's narrative is its portrayal of the struggles faced by contract teachers. Through the character of Ipul, portrayed by Fuad Sasmita, the film highlights the reality of teachers earning as little as Rp300,000 per month and needing to take on additional work after teaching. "Many characters in our film reflect social realities. For example, the character Ipul's story is about being a contract teacher, earning Rp300,000 per month, and having to work again after teaching. And that is indeed a reality, which is why we tried to highlight it," Skak explained.

The production process for the film's alien characters involved a creative shift. Initially, the team planned to use Computer Generated Imagery (CGI), but the estimated one-and-a-half-year production time was deemed too long. To ensure the film could be released sooner, the team opted for an animation approach after extensive discussions. "Initially, we wanted to use CGI, but the process could take 1.5 years. If it's like that, it's too long, because the hope is that this film can be enjoyed soon. Finally, we discussed, and it was done in animation form," Skak said.