From Kinabalu to Bandung: When Two Nations Meet on the Screen
Bandung, December 21, 2025 - That Sunday morning, the air in Bandung felt gentle, as if the city itself was welcoming special guests from across the sea. Inside the Faculty of Arts and Design Education (FPSD) at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI), the atmosphere was different from an ordinary day. Although it was a holiday, the seventh-floor auditorium was alive filled with laughter, smiles, and the clicking of student cameras capturing moments of warmth and enthusiasm.
It was not an ordinary day. Two worlds met under a shared spirit: film as a bridge of knowledge and friendship. Twelve teachers from Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Tampolan, Telipok, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, arrived at the Film and Television Study Program (FTV), FPSD UPI, to engage in discussions, learn, and share experiences about film production in educational settings.
A Warm Morning on a Holiday
Figure 1. The Welcoming Exchange (Source: FPSD Press, 2025)
At exactly 8:30 a.m., the event began. The national anthems of Indonesia Raya and Negaraku echoed alternately, filling the grand auditorium with solemn pride. After a moment of prayer, the audience was treated to a profile video of FPSD and the Film and Television Study Program (FTV) a vivid portrayal of a creative and dynamic academic environment. On the large screen, the visiting Malaysian teachers watched scenes of film laboratories, editing suites, and glimpses of student productions that had reached international festivals. A gentle round of applause followed a small yet meaningful gesture of cross-cultural appreciation. The event continued with welcoming remarks from Dr. Hery Supiarza, M.Pd, Vice Dean for Student Affairs and Partnerships of FPSD, representing the Dean. With an easygoing and friendly tone, he began his speech:
“This event happens to fall on a holiday, so let’s treat it like one relaxed, warm, and filled with laughter.”
The remark was immediately met with laughter from the guests. A sense of warmth and camaraderie filled the room, dissolving any boundaries between hosts and visitors. What emerged instead was a shared space a space for ideas, stories, and the joy of learning. The next speech came from Puan Zaliha binti Ismenyah, the Headmistress of Sekolah Kebangsaan Tampolan. With her gentle Sabah accent, she began with a line that instantly brought smiles across the auditorium:
“We have traveled a long way from our school on the hills of Kinabalu, in Sabah, Malaysia,” she said warmly. “So, of course, we must bring home some knowledge as our souvenir today.”
The audience burst into laughter, and the atmosphere grew even warmer. Her simple words carried a deeper philosophy of their journey they had come not only to learn, but to plant the seeds of cross-cultural collaboration. Following her speech, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and an Implementation Agreement (IA) were signed between the two institutions. Unlike the usual formality of such ceremonies, this moment felt alive and deeply meaningful a celebration of partnership built on sincerity and shared purpose.
Puan Zaliha smiled broadly and said, “This signing also marks its immediate implementation a collaboration that begins in action, right here and now.”
The auditorium once again filled with applause. The ink on that paper seemed to symbolize the commitment of two educational worlds united under one shared vision to teach film not merely as a visual art, but as a medium for learning and character building.
Figure 2. Group Photo after the Signing Ceremony (Source: FPSD Press, 2025)
Two Films, Two Nations, One Language
After the signing ceremony, the lights dimmed and the large screen flickered to life once again. The audience was invited to watch a short film created by the students of SK Tampolan a story depicting Malaysia’s history during the colonial era. What amazed everyone was that the film had been produced and performed entirely by children aged seven to ten.
On screen, these young students portrayed heroes and colonizers with simple yet powerful dialogue. The film was more than a historical retelling it was a celebration of courage and creativity among Malaysian children. A wave of applause filled the auditorium when it was revealed that the film had been screened at children’s film festivals in Finland and Busan, South Korea.
Soon after, the spotlight shifted to “Manik,” a film produced by FTV UPI students. The atmosphere in the auditorium turned still. The twenty-minute film explored themes of symbolism and cultural spirituality, delivered through mesmerizing cinematic language.
When the screen finally went dark, the twelve Malaysian teachers sat in silence for a brief moment before breaking into heartfelt applause a gesture of awe and admiration.
“I can hardly believe this was made by fourth-semester students,” one of them remarked, eyes gleaming with amazement.
The film Manik was far from an ordinary student production. It has traveled across numerous international film festivals and represented Indonesia at the Braunschweig Film Festival in Germany. For the teachers from Sabah, the experience of watching this UPI student film was an eye-opening moment revealing how art education can seamlessly integrate creativity, critical inquiry, and professional practice.
Workshop and Discussion: Weaving Imagination and Curriculum
Figure 3. Workshop and Discussion in a Warm Atmosphere (Source: FPSD Press, 2025)
The highlight of the event took place from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., featuring a workshop titled “Exploring Film Production and the Film Education Curriculum.”
Two keynote speakers led the session:
- Dedi Warsana, M.Sn - a film studio lecturer at UPI and a performing arts and children’s theater practitioner,
- Encik Iroet Marteni - Curriculum Coordinator and Head of Film Activities at SK Tampolan.
The discussion unfolded in a warm and engaging atmosphere, filled with questions and reflections. The Malaysian teachers were eager to learn how FTV students approach film production through studio-based learning, how the curriculum is designed, and how creativity is cultivated without losing local cultural identity. Dedi Warsana explained that the essence of film education at UPI lies in “learning through practice” a process-oriented approach rather than one focused solely on theory. Encik Iroet responded with an insightful reflection:
“At the elementary school level, we introduce film as a way for children to understand the world,” said Encik Iroet thoughtfully. “But here, we see film as a way to understand oneself.”
His words brought the session to a quiet close a silence not of emptiness, but of meaning.
From Bandung to Kinabalu: A Journey of Shared Vision
Figure 4. “Salam UPI Melesat” A Farewell Gesture at the FPSD Hallway (Source: FPSD Press, 2025)
At exactly twelve noon, the event concluded with laughter and warm handshakes. In just three hours, the distance between Bandung and Kinabalu seemed to dissolve.
From this meeting emerged a new agreement: the Film and Television Program of UPI will visit Sabah in 2026 to conduct a film workshop at Sekolah Kebangsaan Tampolan. That day, film was no longer merely a form of entertainment it became a universal language that bridged two nations, two educational systems, and two perspectives on childhood and art.
As Dr. Hery aptly remarked: “This event feels like a holiday but a holiday that brings home knowledge, inspiration, and friendship.” And therein lies the true essence of this encounter a holiday transformed into a lesson across borders.
Writer: Faril Ikhsan - Contributor, FPSD Press
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