In the ever-evolving digital landscape, film has become more than just entertainment – it is a powerful medium to convey profound messages. Realizing this great potential, the Vocational Education Program of Universitas Indonesia (UI) proudly presents the “Vokasi UI Film Festival 2024”. This festival is not only a competition, but also a place for students to bring their ideas to life, arouse their emotions, and free their imaginations through the art of film.
The Deputy Director for Education, Research, and Student Affairs, Deni Danial Kesa, Ph.D., emphasized that this festival is a stage for students to showcase their creative works while advancing the creative industry in Indonesia through vocational education. “This opportunity is a valuable moment for the collaboration between theoretical and practical abilities, providing students with invaluable skills for their future,” said Deni.
The festival, which was held on August 12-13, 2024, is a collaboration between the Department of Administration and Applied Business, which oversees the Creative Business Study Program, with the Department of Applied Social Humanities which includes the Media Production Study Program, Tourism Business Management, Public Relations, Multimedia Broadcasting, and Creative Advertising.
Deni explained that this cross-study program collaboration not only strengthens the implementation of the festival, but also reflects the synergy in creating quality works of art. With the theme “Kalbu Kelabu,” this festival explores the unexpected complexity of human emotions, poured into a mysterious gray color palette.
The 2024 UI Vocational Film Festival carries various interesting activities, including film competitions, workshops, pitching, talk shows, and film screenings. The main purpose of this entire series of events is to showcase and appreciate the work of students while encouraging them to continue to develop their talents and potential in the world of film.
The festival began on August 12 with an editing workshop guided by leading professionals, Sheryn Maulidya and Pieter Anthony from Visinema Studios. In the workshop, participants not only learned editing techniques such as fine cut and picture lock, but also gained a deep understanding of the importance of a structured and careful editing process.
The pitching session for the Film Proposal Pitching category became a stage for students to present their film ideas in a short but impressive manner. Deni called this session a golden opportunity for students to test their concepts and receive constructive feedback from industry experts.
One of the peak events of the festival was a discussion with renowned director, Teddy Soeriaatmadja, on August 13, 2024. With a track record of works such as The Architecture of Love (2024) and Lovely Man (2011), Teddy shared his experiences and insights on how to create films that are not only technically interesting, but also contain strong and meaningful narratives. This discussion inspired students to better understand and explore the world of film.
In addition to discussions and workshops, the 2024 UI Vocational Film Festival also featured eight selected films, consisting of three documentaries and five short films, in a screening session at the UI Vocational Reading Park. This screening allows students to watch their work on the big screen and receive appreciation from the audience.
The peak of this event took place on August 16, 2024, coinciding with the 2024 Masa Bimbingan Vokasi (MABIMVOK UI), where the winners from various categories will be announced in the awarding session. Deni expressed his hope that this festival can continue to motivate students to work and innovate in the field of film arts. “We congratulate all participants who have participated. Hopefully, this festival will be an inspiration for students who aspire to work in the world of film,” he said.
The winners of the Film Pendek Terbaik (Best Short Film) and Penulisan Naskah Film Terbaik (Best Screenplay) categories were won by “Fate”, directed by Kelvin Hananto and written by Rahma Azzahra. For the Film Dokumenter Terbaik (Best Documentary) category, the award was given to “Baduy: The Silence of Education” which was also directed by Kelvin Hananto. Meanwhile, the Film Proposal Pitching category was won by a group with the proposal title “PT Yak Op” from Orang Film UI.
With the end of the 2024 UI Vocational Film Festival, it is hoped that the enthusiasm and creativity of students will continue to grow, bringing the Indonesian film industry to a higher peak.
