Two SMAMDA Students Win Best Fresh Voice and Changemaker Pitch Awards at CineLink Youth 2025 South Korea
- independen film surabaya
- Nov 9, 2025
- 3 min read
Two students from Muhammadiyah 2 Senior High School Surabaya (SMAMDA), Almira Nindyawati Risandriya and Reyna Nalini Zarri, have achieved remarkable success at the CineLink Youth 2025 event held at Exhibition Center 2, BEXCO, Busan, South Korea, on Monday (September 22, 2025).
Both received international recognition in the categories of Best Fresh Voice (Almira) and Changemaker Pitch (Reyna).
CineLink Youth is an international forum that brings together young students from various Asian countries to develop creative ideas in film, culture, and visual media.
A Valuable Experience in an International Forum
Met on Monday (October 20, 2025), Almira and Reyna shared their exciting experiences while presenting their works before judges and participants from different countries.
Almira admitted feeling nervous since it was her first time speaking in front of an international audience.
“I was nervous and scared to present, especially in front of people from various countries. But thank God, they actually appreciated my project,” she said.
Reyna felt the same way. “I was nervous and anxious because I was facing senior and experienced people at the international level,” she said.
Even so, both managed to deliver their best performance and gained international recognition. This achievement highlights the great potential of Indonesian students in presenting original and impactful ideas on the global stage.
In her project titled Unity in Diversity: When Hanbok Meets Indonesian Heritage, Reyna explored cultural collaboration between Indonesia and Korea through the fusion of traditional Indonesian woven fabrics with the silhouette of Korean hanbok.
Her project emphasized self-expression through fashion, color, and the visual aesthetics of film.
“I was interested in joining CineLink Youth because film is not just about storytelling, but also about visuals, style, and self-expression. Coming from the fashion world, I see a lot of space for collaboration—how costumes, colors, and aesthetics can strengthen a film’s narrative,” she explained.
Reyna hopes her work can serve as a bridge connecting the creativity of Indonesian youth with the international fashion and film industries.
Meanwhile, Almira presented a project titled The Charm of the Malay Archipelago, which highlights Malay culture and the beauty of Sumatran songket as a source of cross-disciplinary inspiration between fashion, film, and cultural education.
“After joining CineLink Youth, my goal is to bring the richness of Malay culture into film and fashion on a broader scale. I want to show that fabric, motifs, or styles of clothing can be part of storytelling that’s both relevant and modern,” Almira said.
Almira’s work was praised for presenting a “new voice” — gentle yet powerful — in conveying cultural values through visual media and contemporary fashion.
Appreciation from the World and School Support
Both students had the opportunity to present their works before creative industry figures from various countries, including Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, India, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mongolia, South Korea, Iran, Turkey, Kazakhstan, as well as the United States and Canada.
Fauzan Abdillah, Project Manager of CineLink Youth 2025, expressed high appreciation for the achievements of the two SMAMDA students.
“Reyna and Almira are not just participants, but representatives of a new generation that is confident, bold, and deeply connected to their cultural roots. They have proven that East Java’s youth can have a voice on the international stage without losing their identity,” he said.
Fauzan hopes this success will open more opportunities for Indonesian students to participate in global creative forums.
Positive Response from Parents
Their parents also shared their pride. Endah Sriwulan, Reyna’s mother, expressed her gratitude for her daughter’s accomplishment.
“Thank God, I’m very proud because my daughter has such sensitivity toward our national culture. She presented Indonesian woven fabrics and received international recognition,” she said.
Meanwhile, Linda Setyawati, Almira’s mother, also shared a similar sentiment.
“Thank God, I’m very grateful. Almira showed independence and courage to perform in an international forum. If there’s another event like this, I’d love to support her again,” she said.
*) Writer: Fauzan Abdillah / Tanti Pusptorini
*) Editor: Alfain Jalaluddin Ramadlan
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