YOGYAKARTA 16 December 2025 - Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta continues to strengthen its role as a center for the development of arts and culture at the Southeast Asian regional level. Through the Faculty of Recording Media Arts (FSMR), ISI Yogyakarta organized a public lecture entitled Historicizing Indonesia-Malaysia Cinematic Relations, The event took place in Studio 1 of the Film and Television (FTV) Study Program, ISI Yogyakarta Campus.
This academic event featured Dr. Norman Yusoff, Senior Lecturer (Film) from the Faculty of Film, Theatre and Animation, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Malaysia, as the main speaker. Also present was Dr. Aida, Dean of the Faculty of Film, Theatre and Animation at UiTM Malaysia, demonstrating the commitment of both institutions in strengthening international cooperation in the field of arts and film education.
This public lecture was attended by lecturers, students, and academicians across study programs at ISI Yogyakarta. The academic forum became a strategic discussion space to discuss the history of cinema relations between Indonesia and Malaysia, starting from the early era of cinema, aesthetic and narrative exchanges, to the influence of socio-political dynamics on the development of the film industry in both countries.
In his presentation, Dr. Norman Yusoff emphasized that cinema has an important role as a medium for reflecting the history, identity, and cultural relations of allied communities. According to him, the study of cross-border cinema is not only relevant in an academic context, but also strategic to strengthen cultural understanding and creative collaboration in the Southeast Asian region.
The discussion was enriched by the screening of film footage from various periods, which showed the transformation of visual styles, story themes, and cultural representations in Indonesian and Malaysian cinema. The Q&A session was interactive, with students utilizing the opportunity to explore opportunities for cross-border film collaboration, joint research, and the challenges of the film industry in the global and digital era.
The organization of this public lecture emphasizes ISI Yogyakarta's commitment to presenting learning based on global insights, while strengthening international academic networks. This activity is also part of ISI Yogyakarta's efforts to build an art education ecosystem that is responsive to regional and global issues.
To conclude the series of events, the Implementation Arrangement (IA) was signed between the Film and Television Study Program of ISI Yogyakarta and the Faculty of Film, Theatre and Animation UiTM Malaysia, accompanied by the handover of souvenirs and a group photo session. The signing marks a concrete step to strengthen academic cooperation covering education, research, and the development of cinema works in the future.
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