September to Sewon – Institut Seni Indonesia Screen Marks the Finale of Sewon Screening 11 Pre-Events

Yogyakarta, August 29, 2025 – After traveling to three cities across Java and visiting various film communities in Yogyakarta, Sewon Screening finally returned home with the Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Screen program. This event took place at the ISI Yogyakarta Boulevard, right in front of the Rectorate Building. The ISI Screen was an extension of the Faculty Screenings previously held by Sewon Screening, combining the Faculty of Fine Arts Screen and the Faculty of Performing Arts Screen to represent the diverse artistic expressions nurtured at ISI Yogyakarta.

The program opened with a dance performance by students from the Faculty of Performing Arts. The opening and closing dances told a story of a young woman and her two friends who voiced their opinions during the New Order era but were repeatedly silenced. “We didn’t give the piece a formal title, but it’s part of a single narrative. We rehearsed for a little over a week before the event,” said Paula, one of the dancers. Originally, the program was also set to feature an exhibition by students from the Faculty of Fine Arts, but the plan was canceled due to rain in order to protect the artworks from damage.

“Thank you to everyone who came to our final pre-event. This marks the closure of our pre-event series and also serves as a prelude to our main event in September. Don’t forget to join us at the main event, September 21–25, at the Faculty of Media Arts ISI Yogyakarta. Enjoy the show!” said Evan Rizky Febriyants, Festival Director of Sewon Screening 11.

Qodri Aryanugraha, the programmer of the ISI Screen, delivered a program note titled Breaking Boundaries, Speaking Out Loud. The theme draws an analogy to artists who face limitations in their work but break through those boundaries with their aspirations. Films screened during the program included Lantun Rakyat directed by Moch. Dwi Cahya, Kabar dari Kubur directed by Rasyid Baihaqi, and Marganing Gesang directed by Catur Panggih Raharjo.

“For me, these three films really capture the struggles of artists working within limitations. What’s remarkable is that they didn’t surrender to their constraints they kept striving to create,” Qodri explained when asked about his selection. For the curation process, the programmer specifically chose films that addressed limitations, both in narrative and in form. The hope is that the screenings inspire artists or anyone experiencing restrictions to step beyond their boundaries and continue to create and express themselves.

Before the discussion session, as is tradition, the hosts energized the audience with Sewon Screening 11’s slogan: Fresh Breeze of a New Decade. The discussion was moderated by Elsya Angelica Br Tarigan and joined by filmmaker Catur Panggih Raharjo in person, while Rasyid Baihaqi and Bias G. Wicaksi participated online. Audience questions sparked a lively exchange, covering topics such as the filmmakers’ backgrounds and approaches, the meaning behind their titles, their research and writing processes, screening permissions, and the challenges of working amid technological and creative constraints.

The ISI Screen attracted around two hundred attendees, most of them ISI Yogyakarta students from the Faculties of Fine Arts, Performing Arts, and Media Arts. The audience sat cross-legged along the street in front of the Rectorate some on mats under tents, others on the grass or by the Boulevard. They immersed themselves in the screenings, laughing, tearing up, and eagerly engaging in the discussion session.

“It was fun, the films gave me new perspectives. The dance performance earlier was so deep in meaning,” said Rindi, a first-year student of Film and Television at ISI Yogyakarta.

“It’s interesting because the theme really reflects what’s happening around us right now people are still struggling and resisting. Raising this theme of resistance is great for building awareness and encouraging friends to raise their voices. My favorite film was Lantun Rakyat its format felt so fresh, and I haven’t really come across films like that before,” added Arini, a student of Music at ISI Yogyakarta, sharing her impressions of the ISI Screen and her favorite from the lineup.

With the ISI Screen, Sewon Screening 11 officially closed its pre-event journey. Next comes the main event in September the grand culmination featuring a series of screening and non-screening programs, fully realized as a Film Festival for All Audiences. Stay tuned for more updates and excitement via sewonscreening.com and Sewon Screening’s social media. See you this September at Sewon!