From Maratua to Korea: UMN Student Film “Adak Engkot” Shakes Up The APEC 2025 Stage

A short film by UMN students titled Adak Engkot (2025) was selected as an Official Film Selection at the Gyeongju Hwarang Youth Short Film Festival 2025. (Doc. IMDB)

TANGERANG—Universitas Multimedia Nusantara’s (UMN) study program has again proven that student work can break into the international stage. The short film Adak Engkot (2025) has been selected as an Official Film Selection at the Gyeongju Hwarang Youth Short Film Festival 2025.

The Gyeongju Hwarang Youth Short Film Festival 2025 is an international film festival in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Korea 2025 event series. The festival will take place from June 6–8, 2025, at Lotte Cinema Hwangseong Branch, Gyeongju, South Korea, and will bring together young filmmakers from APEC member countries.

Organized by the South Korean Ministry of Economy and Finance in collaboration with the Gyeongju City Government, this event serves as a platform for young people from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds across the Asia-Pacific region. Adak Engkot will be screened on the festival’s final day, June 8, 2025, as the sole representative from Indonesia.

In this project, Agum Pradipa Rurian, a 2021 graduate of the UMN Film Program, served as director and producer. He tells the story of Aidil, a teenager from Maratua Island, East Kalimantan, preparing to inherit his father’s grouper farming business. The coastal setting, family dynamics, and traditional values form the core of this coming-of-age themed film.

“If this film is like a letter, this letter is addressed to my family in Maratua. I want to bring the name of the Bajau people and the life of the sea to national and international cinema. Please pray for Agum, Dad, Uncle, and my younger brother who helped with the production,” Agum said.

Agum Pradipa Rurian, a 2021 film student at UMN, is also the producer and director of Adak Engkot. (Doc. Agum Pradipa Rurian)

For Agum, this is not just a personal achievement. He considers Adak Engkot a form of respect for his identity as a coastal child and a small voice from the Bajau community that is rarely brought to the big screen. This experience has also made him more aware of the importance of returning to his roots. If he could return to the beginning of his university days, he would remind himself: “Go home to East Kalimantan often. Remember your identity as a person of the sea. Don’t forget, even though you now live in the city.”

When it was screened, the film received a lot of positive feedback, from foreign audiences’ interest in Indonesia’s coastal backdrop to appreciation for the depth of the story, which is both relatable and universal. Agum’s participation also opened up opportunities for cross-cultural discussions. He attended a forum with young filmmakers from South Korea, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Chile.

Agum acknowledged that this success would not have been possible without the support of the university. He expressed gratitude to Zulhiczar Arie Tinarbuko, S.Sn., M.F.A., his academic advisor at UMN, and Bima from UMN Student Development, who was highly responsive in assisting with the administrative process for his departure. “UMN has opened up significant opportunities for students to break into the international arena through programs like TAPP and UMN GATE. It’s up to the students to actively adapt their work to the festival’s character,” he added.

On the other hand, Agum also highlighted the challenges of conveying cultural literacy to an international audience, especially when presenting a specific ethnic identity. Other challenges included technical production at sea and adapting to his first international journey.

For other UMN students pursuing careers in film and animation, Agum advised, “Understand the strength of your story. Don’t wait for perfection. Try submitting it abroad, research the festival’s character first, and adapt it to your work.

About Adak Engkot

Set on Maratua Island, Adak Engkot follows the journey of Aidil, a teenager preparing to inherit his father’s grouper farming business. Amidst natural challenges and family expectations, Aidil grows into a true partner to his father. This coming-of-age drama short film highlights heritage, resilience, and the unspoken bond between father and son.

This film is the result of a collaboration among students from Universitas Multimedia Nusantara (UMN):

• Agum Pradipa Rurian (Producer and Director)
• Muhammad Rival Alfaridzki (Editor)
• Axel Tito Wesiang (Director of Photography)
• Dhaffa Alif Raditya (Dialogue Editor)
• Ahmad Farid Julianto (Camera Operator)
• Prima Fadhilah (Sound Design)

By Melinda Chang | UMN News Service

English translation by Levina Chrestella Theodora

Kuliah di Jakarta untuk jurusan program studi Informatika| Sistem Informasi | Teknik Komputer | Teknik Elektro | Teknik Fisika | Akuntansi | Manajemen| Komunikasi Strategis | Jurnalistik | Desain Komunikasi Visual | Film dan Animasi | Arsitektur | D3 Perhotelan , di Universitas Multimedia Nusantara.