Celebrating Creativity and Social Impact at Inspiring Asia Micro Film Festival 2025 #InspiringIndonesia

The 2025 Inspiring Asia Micro Film Festival debuted in Indonesia, highlighting the country’s rising filmmakers on an international platform. Initiated by the Li Foundation, the festival featured two competitive categories: Best Micro Film and Best Project. Among outstanding submissions, “Yang Diam Yang Bersuara” by Hello Sister secured Best Project, while “Mania Dunia Nia” by Lagi Liburan Films earned Best Micro Film, surpassing two other finalists in each category.

Under the theme “To Be Seen,” the Inspiring Asia Micro Film Festival 2025 #InspiringIndonesia received a highly positive response from Indonesia’s filmmakers and film communities. During the judging process, more than 50 films and projects from various regions across the country took part. These were then narrowed down to 14 selected filmmakers and projects that advanced to the community vetting stage on the Campaign for Good platform, engaging over 2,000 individuals and communities in active participation and dialogue around mental health issues.

The Top 3 finalists in each category then faced live, in-person judging by acclaimed filmmaker and Oscar voter Kamila Andini, comedian and filmmaker Bene Dion Rajagukguk (Tanoto Foundation Scholarship Alumnus), psychologist and public speaker Analisa Widyaningrum (Djarum Beasiswa Plus alumna). The Screening & Awarding Day took place at Galeri Indonesia Kaya, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday (Sept 17).

Kamila Andini praised the finalists’ works at the Inspiring Asia Micro Film Festival 2025 #InspiringIndonesia, describing them as high-quality, timely, and skillfully crafted to address youth mental health issues through compelling audiovisual storytelling. The acclaimed director who began her own career making short films, commended the festival as a valuable platform for young filmmakers to showcase their best work and as a stepping stone toward the international stage.

“This has been an exciting experience for me,” Kamila said during the judging. “At the start of my career, I created many short films in collaboration with NGOs and community groups, often focusing on social issues. It’s inspiring to see a space like this where filmmakers are passionate about driving change through their art. For me, it’s refreshing to witness such diverse perspectives and that diversity itself gives me hope.”

The event drew notable guests, including Agustini Rahayu, Deputy for Media Creativity at Indonesia’s Ministry of Creative Economy, and Candy Goh, Director of Li Foundation, alongside NGO representatives, youth mental health advocates, and film community members. The festival underscores a meaningful collaboration between Campaign for Good, Djarum Foundation, Tanoto Foundation, and A Better World Foundation to raise public awareness of mental health. Campaign for Good serves as a distinguished platform enabling young people to articulate their aspirations while mobilizing broader public engagement. Djarum Foundation reiterates its steadfast commitment to fostering a resilient, innovative generation with a deep sense of social responsibility. In parallel, Tanoto Foundation regards this festival as a strategic initiative to advance holistic education, cultivating not only academic excellence but also emotional fortitude and heightened social consciousness among the next generation.

“Inspiring Indonesia’s debut is a milestone made possible through strong partnerships,” said Candy Goh. “The enthusiasm of young filmmakers and the robust public engagement through Campaign for Good reflect a deep commitment to youth mental health. We truly value the unique perspectives and innovative collaborations brought by Indonesia’s finalists and partners.”

Hello Sister’s Yang Diam Yang Bersuara explores the story of Giri, a college student facing misconduct from a thesis advisor offering an unethical “shortcut.” Giri’s decision to report the case to Komnas Perempuan makes the film a catalyst for discussion, further developed as a training tool for peer-leader workshops at universities in South Sumatra. Directed by Royyand Irsyad and produced by Mutiara Ramadhon, the Hello Sister team was surprised and thrilled by their debut victory.

“We created this film quickly and on a shoestring budget,” said Mutiara. “We didn’t expect it to resonate so deeply or reach this stage. Because we often receive reports from survivors, we wanted to capture through film what they feel but may not be able to express.”

Meanwhile, Lagi Liburan Films’ Mania Dunia Nia, which won Best Micro Film, tells the story of Nia, a first-year engineering student struggling to balance academics, part-time work, and the distractions of social media all leading to mounting pressure. Director Yosafat Prasetya and producer Januar David Ciu expressed their disbelief at the win.

“When our name was announced, I immediately thought back to every stage of production it felt unreal,” Yosafat shared. “This idea came alive through many perspectives, and I believe it truly resonates. Each finalist brought their own strength. It never felt like competition but rather collaboration to amplify the same important issue.”

The winners of the Best Micro Film and Best Project categories will advance to the Inspiring Asia Preliminary Round, with the opportunity to represent Indonesia at the Grand Final of the Inspiring Asia Micro Film Festival 2025 in Singapore on 25 October 2025, competing for a total prize pool of up to USD 150,000 (USD 50,000 for Best Micro Film and USD 100,000 for Best Project). The Inspiring Asia Micro Film Festival 2025 has also received an enthusiastic response, with more than 800 submissions from 70 countries.

Winners – Inspiring Asia Micro Film Festival 2025 #InspiringIndonesia
(Production House – Film Title – Prize)

Best Project

• 1st Place: Hello Sister – Yang Diam Yang Bersuara – Rp165,000,000
• 2nd Place: sustainHER Indonesia – The Same Worry – Rp33,000,000
• 3rd Place: Rumah Visioner – When Hope Has a Home – Rp33,000,000

Best Micro Film

• 1st Place: Lagi Liburan Films – Mania Dunia Nia – Rp82,500,000
• 2nd Place: kumparan – The Strawberry Generation – Rp16,500,000

3rd Place: Frame On Multimedia – For Silent People – Rp16,500,000