CineLink Youth East Java x Busan 2025: New Light of East Java's Young Film Industry Penetrates the World

In the midst of East Java’s efforts to build a creative economy ecosystem driven by young talent, six students from Surabaya took a step further. Through the CineLink Youth East Java x Busan 2025 program, they represented Indonesia at the international film forums Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) and Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) in South Korea.

The program, initiated by Fauzan Abdillah, founder of Figuratif Pictures and Director of INFIS Surabaya, marks a pioneering cross-country collaboration between East Java and South Korea — a pilot project of creative education that blends film, culture, and youth diplomacy.

From Surabaya to Busan: Igniting a New Spirit

Throughout the program, the six participants — nicknamed the Surabaya Six — took part in pitching sessions, visits to Busan’s film industry centers, and masterclasses with international producers and curators. They didn’t come only to learn, but to introduce new voices and identities from Eastern Indonesia: bold, reflective, and full of curiosity.

The Awardees & The Meaning Behind Them

Muhasibi – Best Bold IdeaThrough his experimental film concept, Muhasibi combined social reality with strong visual symbolism. He showed courage in breaking away from conventional thinking — something rarely found at a young age.

“Being brave isn’t just about breaking rules, it’s about finding new ways to be honest through images,” he said.

Dafa – Best Future StoryDafa presented a futuristic narrative combining science, culture, and humanity. His story offered a glimpse of the future while staying rooted in local values.

Fauzan described Dafa’s work as “a mature young vision, with the courage to imagine Indonesia 20 years ahead without losing its identity.”

Bryan – Best Visual ImpactComing from Big Bryan Production, Bryan is known for his sharp and stylish cinematography. He creates visuals that are not only beautiful but communicative — proving that short films can have the same aesthetic power as professional productions.

Reyna – Best Changemaker PitchComing from the fashion world, Reyna brought a new perspective — that costumes and colors can serve as the language of emotion in film. She showcased cinema as a multidisciplinary space where style, culture, and social messages meet.

Almira – Best Fresh VoiceAlmira stood out with her ambition to bring Malay culture into modern film and fashion. She viewed traditional fabrics and motifs as elegant and universal storytelling mediums.

“I want Malay culture to be seen not as nostalgia, but as the future,” she said.

Baihaqi – Best Visionary DirectionAs a young director, Baihaqi impressed with his project Before Growing Up — a work that blended emotional honesty with mature cinematic direction. He portrayed the journey of growing up as a space for reflection and self-discovery, not merely a teenage story.

“Luminary Journey”: From the Classroom to the World

Fauzan Abdillah described this program as a “Luminary Journey” — a journey of discovering light through the process of growth.

“This film is not merely a product, but a reflection of their lives. CineLink Youth has become the most tangible learning space — between discipline, courage, and empathy.”

Through this journey, the participants have not only become filmmakers but also young ambassadors of Surabaya, carrying local cultural values to the international stage.

CineLink Youth’s Next Step: Bridging East Java’s Creative Generation with the World

Surabaya, October 2025 – After their achievement at CineLink Youth East Java x Busan 2025, six young East Javanese students are preparing for their next creative step. The program that brought them to the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) and Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) was not only an international experience but also a milestone in developing the youth film ecosystem in the region.

One of the participants, Baihaqi from SMAN 5 Surabaya, won the Best Visionary Direction award for his film Before Growing Up, which portrays a teenager’s journey in finding identity amid changing times.

“This film isn’t just a school assignment; it’s my way of understanding the process of growing. I want to show that young people can think critically and honestly through their work,” said Baihaqi.

Fauzan Abdillah, the program initiator and Director of INFIS (Independent Film Surabaya), stated that this achievement is an early step toward strengthening East Java’s position in national and international creative networks.

“We see this generation has extraordinary potential. The next task is to ensure they receive continuous support — from schools, government, communities, to the private sector — so they can keep creating with a clear direction,” he said.

The CineLink Youth program has proven to be an interdisciplinary learning space, combining film, art, and cultural literacy as a medium of expression and youth diplomacy. Participants learned directly from international practitioners in Busan, understood the dynamics of the Asian film industry, and introduced East Java’s creative identity to the global stage.

The next step of this initiative is being prepared through a collaborative approach and continuous education, expanding to other creative cities around the world. The hope is that more institutions, schools, communities, and policymakers will take part in opening access, providing facilities, and giving space for students’ creativity in film and media.

“We believe that support from many parties is not only about funding or facilities but about building trust — that the works of East Java’s youth deserve the spotlight,” added Fauzan.

With the spirit of Local Frame, Global Impact, CineLink Youth stands as a symbol that from the classrooms of Surabaya and East Java, imagination and ideas can cross borders. A small step with a great direction: making East Java a home for a creative generation that thinks globally, stays rooted locally, and competes internationally.

#CineLinkYouth #LuminaryJourney #EastJavaCreativeYouth #INFISSurabaya #FromSchoolToWorld

Editor’s Note:

This press release is prepared as the official publication following the delegation’s return from South Korea. It is an appreciation for the CineLink Youth 2025 program in collaboration with Yooran Film, supported by Napnet (New Asian Producers Network), Busan Asian Film School – AFIS, Busan Film Commission, Inno Asia – Asian Contents & Film Market ACFM – Busan International Film Festival 2025, and serves as recognition of the participants’ creativity in an international forum.

CineLink Youth Busan – Award Winners 2025

1. Best Bold Idea – Muhammad Sadid Al MuhasibiAwarded to the participant who pushes boundaries with unconventional and courageous pitches.Sibi won this category with his project Cross-Taste Delivery, a cultural gastronomic comedy that sharply and humorously critiques the digital world.

2. Best Fresh Voice – Almira Nindyawati RisandriyaRecognizing a pitch that introduces a fresh young perspective.Almira was praised for her project The Charm of Melayu Archipelago, presenting the restlessness of young Malay generations with authenticity and emotional depth.

3. Best Future Story – Dafa Hayfa Asyabyl SuwardiAwarded for an idea that envisions the future.Dafa impressed the jury with From The Roots Creative Hub, a creative collaboration platform introducing traditional cuisine through global food issues — combining online campaigns, gamification, and educational content in various formats to educate youth in new ways.

4. Best Visual Impact – Bryan Wibowo SudamiranCelebrating a pitch with the strongest visual imagination.Bryan stood out through his project Past Tense, a psychological thriller with powerful visual atmosphere and mature cinematic concept.

5. Best Changemaker Pitch – Reyna Nalini ZarriRecognizing ideas with the potential to create real impact.Reyna earned this award for her project Fusion Hanbok & Tenun, blending traditional Korean and East Javanese fashion as a symbol of cultural diplomacy.

6. Best Visionary Direction – Baihaqi Zulfikar HidayatHonoring the participant with the most visionary creative direction.Baihaqi impressed through his project on Early Marriage in Madura & Indigenous Forests in Papua, combining social issues and capitalism critique in a bold dramatic narrative.