Yogyakarta 2025 – The annual Sewon Screening film festival returns for its 11th year, bringing a new spirit to young filmmakers and independent film enthusiasts. Held at the Faculty of Visual Arts and Design, Indonesian Institute of the Arts Yogyakarta, the festival officially opened on September 21, 2025, marking the start of a series of film screenings and other programs such as community forums, sunflower classes, and much more.
The presence of Sewon Screening has become a breath of fresh air for festivals in Yogyakarta, especially in South Yogyakarta. Sewon Screening serves as a platform that brings together film works from various parts of Indonesia, film communities, and independent filmmakers seeking alternative spaces outside the mainstream. It raises the theme of Resistance as a form of stance against various aspects, mainstream hegemony, and the limited space for expression.
The opening began with a warm welcome from the Dean of the Faculty of Visual Media Recording, Dr. Edial Rusli, S.E., M.Sn., the Head of the Television Department, Dr. Samuel Gandang Gunanto, S.Kom., M.T., represented by the Secretary of the Television Department, Pius Rino Pungkiawan, S.Sn., M.Sn., the Chairman of the Television Student Association, Restu Cahya Efendi, and the Festival Director, Evan Rizky, as well as sponsors and media partners. The Sewon Screening 11 opening ceremony was lively, hosted by Kak Bara and Kak Intan.
In his opening remarks, Evan Rizky emphasized that Sewon Screening 11 is a long journey that has always been fueled by the spirit of resistance, the spirit to fight against pressure, challenge circumstances, and voice things that are often marginalized. This year's resistance theme is celebrated with the title "a fresh breeze for a new decade." It is an event to feel a new gust of courage, to give breath to stories that stand tall, and to open a new decade of Sewon Screening with fresher, louder, and more liberating energy. Furthermore, he also hopes that Sewon Screening 11 will be a breath of fresh air for all of us and a first step towards a new decade filled with more resistance, hope, and freedom.
Restu stated in his remarks that the theme of resistance is not just a slogan, but a reflection and an invitation on how to resist, create spaces for courage, and amplify voices that are often marginalized through film. Furthermore, Sewon Screening is a space for gathering, a place where filmmakers, audiences, academics, and the community can exchange ideas, celebrate diversity, and collectively build a film ecosystem.
According to Mr. Pius Rino Pungkiawan, S.Sn., M.Sn, Sewon Screening is quite special this year. Nature also willed that in its 11th year, the Sewon Screening event would return to the Faculty of Creative Media, after being held at the ISI Yogyakarta Concert Hall in previous years. Furthermore, he hopes that the extraordinary spirit can continue to be ignited by the committee members who change every year, passed on to the next generation. Welcome, happy festival, and have fun at Sewon.
‘A fresh breeze from the south, the fan has been turned on, take a deep breath... South Wind, don't forget...’ is a snippet of lyrics from the Sewon Screening jingle created by the late Ilhamsyah Maulana. He was a figure who played a significant role in the creation of the iconic Sewon Screening jingle. Its verses serve to call and mark the return of the annual Sewon Screening festival. During the opening ceremony, all attendees observed a moment of silence to remember and pray for the late Ilhamsyah Maulana. His works will always be present at every Sewon Screening event.
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