Isola Screen: Indonesia’s First Campus-Based Cinema Officially Launched at FPSD UPI
Figure 1. Flyer Layar Isola (Source: Study Program Film and Television, 2025).
Bandung 21 November 2025 - The Faculty of Art and Design Education (FPSD) at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) has officially launched Isola Screen, an innovative campus-based cinema initiative developed by the Film and Television Study Program. Designed to emulate the atmosphere of a professional movie theater, Isola Screen provides a dedicated space for student filmmakers to present their works through a curated and ticketed screening platform.
Unlike commercial cinemas, Isola Screen offers a unique value proposition: audiences can meet and engage directly with filmmakers, gaining deeper insights into the creative process and artistic concepts behind each film. To date, Isola Screen is recognized as the first and only campus cinema of its kind in Indonesia.
A Premiere Featuring Award-Winning Student Films
The inaugural event opened its gates at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, 21 November 2025, welcoming attendees into the newly redesigned seventh-floor auditorium of the FPSD building equipped with a professional projection screen and a 5.1 surround audio system.
Two curated films from the Film and Television Study Program were selected for the premiere:
“Negana” Directed by Vania Damayanti (Class of 2020)
Figure 2. Poster Film Negana (Source: Vania Damayanti, 2025).
Duration: 25 minutes A fiction film portraying the struggles of Gana, a 14-year-old girl forced into early marriage due to economic pressures following the Palu disaster. The film has received multiple awards, including nominations at the Festival Film Indonesia (FFI).
“Sintas Berlayar” Directed by Virgie (Class of 2019)
Figure 3. Foto Poster Sintas Berlayar (Source: Virgie, 2025).
Duration: 24 minutes A documentary exploring the life of a person with disabilities who was once a sailor in Pangandaran. The film has earned numerous accolades across national film festivals.
Both films underwent a strict curation process that evaluated narrative quality, artistic execution, and academic relevance before being approved for screening.
Engaging Discussion and New Cinema Culture at UPI
Screenings concluded at 5:30 p.m., followed by an in-depth discussion session with the filmmakers. The conversation unfolded with exceptional enthusiasm, as the audience remained seated until the very end of the program. This high level of engagement reflects a new and emerging culture of film appreciation at UPI, where viewers show strong interest not only in the films themselves but also in the creative discourse surrounding them.
Strong Public Response: Tickets Sold Out in Four Days
The premiere drew 175 attendees, and all tickets sold out within four days of publication an indication of the growing demand for academically grounded film experiences on campus.
Strengthening Film Appreciation at a Leading University
Dr. Hery Supiarza, M.Pd., Vice Dean for Student Affairs and Partnerships of FPSD and lecturer in the Film and Television Study Program, conveyed the broader vision of Isola Screen:
“Through Isola Screen, we hope to cultivate a strong culture of film appreciation at UPI as a leading and outstanding university. This platform is more than a screening venue it serves as a creative laboratory where young filmmakers can develop, collaborate, and learn.”
With Isola Screen, FPSD UPI reinforces its role as a forward-thinking institution in film and creative media education, while fostering a vibrant, engaged, and collaborative film community within the academic environment.
Kontributor FPSD PRESS: Mua'fa Audia Permana
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