Depok-A student of the Media Production study program at the Universitas Indonesia (UI) Vocational Education Program, Deru Ibnu Ghifari, won the Begadang Filmmaking Competition award as part of the international short film festival held in Bali, Minikino Film Week 2025.
Deru, along with seven others, received an award for their short film, which they completed in less than 34 hours, but the result was the best among the 53 participants who took part in the competition.
“This film is proof that time constraints are no barrier to producing meaningful work, as long as we believe in the power of collaboration,” said Deru after receiving the award.
(Photo: Poster for the film “Imam and His Nine Friends”)
Deru took on the challenge of making a short film in a short time by directing and producing the three-minute, 20-second film “Imam and His Nine Friends.” The film, directed by Deru, a young man from Lampung, tells the story of a young boy named Imam who risks his life to save his nine imaginary friends.
Minikino Film Week has become a meeting place for local and international filmmakers to celebrate creativity and innovation in short films. This year, the festival showcased hundreds of films from various countries and presented a diverse program, including film screenings, public discussions, workshops, and various competition categories.
(Photo: The shooting process for the film “Imam and His Nine Friends”)
Deru’s success in the competition was due in large part to the close collaboration with his participating colleagues from Lampung. This cross-regional collaboration demonstrated that academic creativity can combine with practical work to produce artistic and emotionally relevant work.
The story “Imam and His Nine Friends” addresses the issue of loneliness often experienced by children, and how imagination can offer a way out of isolation. Deru’s emotional and relevant approach to the theme won the jury and audience alike.
This victory further strengthens UI’s reputation in the national and international film industry and emphasizes the university’s role as a breeding ground for talented students in the film industry. Padang Wicaksono, S.E., Ph.D, Director of the UI Vocational Education Program, also expressed his appreciation for the achievement.
(Photo: The atmosphere of the filming carried out by students of the Media Production study program for the film “Imam and His Nine Friends”)
“Our students’ victory at Minikino Film Week proves that vocational education, which emphasizes real-world practice, can produce graduates who are ready to compete in the creative industry. The direct implementation of learning processes in real-life projects, such as this film competition, makes students more adaptable, creative, and skilled in facing professional challenges,” said Padang.
Deru hopes his achievement at Minikino Film Week will pave the way for him to bring “Imam and His Nine Friends” to other film festivals, both domestically and internationally. Furthermore, he hopes this achievement will inspire other UI students to be bold in creating, innovating, and collaborating within the constraints of the situation.
