Depok-Students of the Multimedia Broadcasting study program, Vocational Education Program, Universitas Indonesia (UI), have once again achieved brilliant achievements in the international arena. The short film entitled Tekaté, a collaborative work of the 2023 student team who are members of the Dos Mediaa production house, has successfully entered the Official Selection of the Oregon Screams Horror Film Festival Fall 2025, a prestigious horror film festival that will be held at the Clinton Street Theater, Portland, Oregon, United States, on September 18, 2025. The film festival, which has been held since 2016, provides a stage for independent filmmakers from various parts of the world to showcase their work in front of the international community of horror film lovers, critics, and industry observers.
The festival receives hundreds of films from around the world each year and is renowned as a prestigious platform for independent filmmakers in the horror genre. Of the 131 films submitted this year, Tekaté caught the attention of festival curators and even placed in the top five in the initial assessment of the marketing scorecard category—a crucial indicator of a film’s marketing appeal and potential audience reach. Furthermore, Tekaté was also a Finalist for the Best Found Footage Horror Film Award at the event. The winner will be announced live in Oregon, United States.
(Photo: Tekaté was also an Award Finalist for Best Found Footage Horror Film at the film festival)
“I am very proud to see our students’ work competing on the international stage. This is proof that vocational education plays a crucial role in producing creative talent ready to compete globally. We will continue to support student collaboration and creative exploration through a practice-based curriculum and strong industry networks,” said Padang Wicaksono, S.E., Ph.D, Director of the UI Vocational Education Program.
Tekaté, directed by Frans Mahen, is a found-footage horror film with a minimalist approach yet rich in atmosphere and symbolism. The story centers on Lika, a teenage girl who is unwittingly drawn into a dangerous spiritual quest, inspired by fictional mythology that refers to the entity Hekate, a mystical figure from ancient pagan beliefs.
(Photo: Production process of the film Tekaté)
Starring one main actor and a small production team of eleven, this film is the result of a project in the Multimedia Broadcasting study program’s Short Film course, which demands not only creativity but also managerial and technical skills under limited conditions. “Tekaté came from our idea to create a film that goes beyond most college film assignments. From there, we explored myth, symbolism, and the horror genre that felt close to us as young people. We wanted to create something challenging, yet still relevant and engaging for a global audience. The provisions we received during the class were very helpful in demonstrating the results of our short film production to the world audience,” said Mahen.
Tekaté’s selection as an official selection for an international film festival demonstrates the ability of innovative work from UI Vocational students to compete globally. This achievement not only reflects the power of imagination and creativity of the younger generation, but also underscores the importance of vocational education in producing quality individuals ready to make significant contributions to the creative industry, both at home and abroad.
