Yogyakarta - Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta held a public lecture entitled "Historicising Indonesia-Malaysia Cinematic Relations" on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 08.00-10.00 WIB in Studio 1 of the Film and Television (FTV) Study Program, Faculty of Recording Media Arts (FSMR) ISI Yogyakarta. This activity is an important academic space to examine the historical relationship between Indonesian and Malaysian cinema in a cross-cultural and time perspective.
The public lecture presented Dr. Norman Yusoff, Senior Lecturer (Film), Faculty of Film, Theatre and Animation, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia, as the main speaker. Also present were Dr. Aida, Dean of the Faculty of Film, Theatre and Animation UiTM Malaysia, along with ISI Yogyakarta lecturers and students from study programs related to film and media.
In his presentation, Dr. Norman Yusoff examined the dynamics of Indonesia-Malaysia cinematic relations formed through creative exchange, political influence, changes in the film industry, and representation of cultural identity on the big screen. He emphasized that cinema cannot be viewed solely as entertainment, but as a space for the encounter of history, ideology, and culture of two allied countries.
"Film becomes a visual archive that records social and political dynamics, while showing how cultural identities are constructed and debated over time," said Dr. Norman in his presentation.
The program also included screenings of film footage from different periods, showing the evolution of storytelling styles, themes, and the way each country represented itself regionally and globally. This material provided concrete context to the historical presentations made by the speakers.
The question and answer session was active. ISI Yogyakarta students asked questions about the dynamics of the contemporary film industry, power relations in cross-border film production, and opportunities for Indonesia-Malaysia cinematic collaboration in the future. This discussion became a space for critical reflection while opening up insights into the potential for creative cooperation in the field of cinema.
This public lecture is considered important as an effort to re-read the history of Southeast Asian cinema from a regional perspective, not merely through the dominant global narrative. Through this critical study, participants are expected to be able to understand cinema as a medium that reflects and shapes social, political and cultural relations among allied nations.
At the end of the activity, a group photo session was held, the signing of the Implementation Arrangement (IA), and the handover of souvenirs from the ISI Yogyakarta Film and Television Study Program. The souvenirs were handed over by the Coordinator of the FTV Study Program Latief Rakhman Hakim, M.Sn., accompanied by the department secretary and lecturers of FTV ISI Yogyakarta, to representatives from Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia. (Public Relations)
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