Depok-The Universitas Indonesia (UI) Vocational Education Program in collaboration with the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (JAFF) held JAFF Sinetalks, a forum for sharing knowledge about the film industry in Indonesia with industry players.
For two days, namely on November 10 and 11, 2025, students of the Multimedia Broadcasting and Media Production Study Program learned directly from professional practitioners involved in the creative process of film production in Indonesia.
The JAFF Sinetalks, held in the UI Vocational Intraco Room, featured two main themes: “Career Beyond Camera” and “Pop Culture on Screen.” The speakers shared insights into the behind-the-scenes world of work and the role of cinema in shaping today’s popular culture.
(Photo: JAFF Sinetalks first day with Ridla An-Nuur and Ahmad Yuniardi)
The discussion session featured Ridla An-Nuur, a film publicist and founder of a film production and distribution house, Goodwork, and Ahmad Yuniardi, a film editor who was involved in a number of well-known films, such as Tukar Takdir (2025) and Penyalin Cahaya (2021).
“Publicists don’t just manage promotions, they also build long-term relationships between films, media outlets, and audiences. Film promotion has now evolved into a cross-platform creative activity, from media relations to cinema activation,” said Ridla.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Yuniardi discussed the film editing process from the assembly cut to the director’s cut, as well as how an editor plays a crucial role in maintaining the rhythm and emotion of the story.
“Editors are retellers. We weave the director’s vision and the producer’s values into a cohesive visual experience,” said Ahmad.
Their collaboration in the films Assalamu’alaikum Baitullah (2025) and Andragogy (2024) is a real example of the synergy between promotional and artistic aspects in Indonesian film production.
(Photo: JAFF Sinetalks second day with Hagai Pakan and Dita Gambiro)
In addition, JAFF Sinetalks also featured production designer Dita Gambiro and costume designer Hagai Pakan. Both were behind the visuals for The Most Beautiful Girl in the World (2025) and Cigarette Girl (2023). According to Dita, film is both an entertainment product and a creative space capable of shaping popular culture and lifestyles. Film also serves as a reflection of culture and a creator of new culture.
“A production designer’s duties include reading the script, analyzing characters, determining the color palette, and coordinating with various visual departments. We have a mission to build a credible and aesthetically pleasing world in the film so that every detail on screen feels alive and meaningful,” said Dita.
Meanwhile, Hagai highlights the role of costumes in strengthening narrative and characterization.
“Costume is a visual language that reflects the setting, social class, and even the emotional state of the characters. Furthermore, the collaboration between spatial design and fashion creates a strong and consistent visual identity for the film,” said Hagai.
According to Hagai, world-building in films can leave a stylistic imprint that extends beyond the screen, from clothing trends to popular tourist destinations due to filming locations. Phenomena like the fashion style in the film “What’s Up with Love?” (2002) is one example of a work that can act as a medium for driving popular culture.
(Photo: Atmosphere of the JAFF Sinetalks x UI Vocational activities)
Padang Wicaksono, S.E., Ph.D., Director of the UI Vocational Education Program, expressed his appreciation for the program and expressed his hope that it would serve as a concrete example of industry-based learning. Furthermore, UI Vocational continues to strengthen partnerships with the creative industry to produce graduates prepared for changing times.
“JAFF Sinetalks brings students together with professionals who have shaped the face of Indonesian cinema. Through this forum, students learn firsthand how a film is born from collaboration, creativity, and cultural sensitivity. Hopefully, the students can absorb all the knowledge provided and apply it when they enter the industry later,” said Padang.
JAFF Sinetalks is part of the JAFF 2025 series of activities that focus on education and development of the Asian film ecosystem. JAFF 2025 will be held in Yogyakarta on November 29-December 6, 2025. At the same time, Asia Pacific film industry players will also be brought together at JAFF Market, an initiative to build a film industry ecosystem in building networking, career development in the film sector, co-production and other broader business collaborations.
“Through the various programs presented this year, JAFF Market can become an important arena for young talents to understand the film production and distribution cycle from a professional perspective,” said JAFF Market Business Director Sekarini Seruni.
