Yogyakarta, June 12, 2026 — The Indonesia Institute of Arts (ISI) Yogyakarta once again affirms its reputation as an internationally acclaimed art higher education institution through its proud achievement at the IV International Festival of Puppet Theaters “Crossroads” in Novosibirsk, Russia, in 2026. The performance “Рыцарь ищет отца” / “Ritsar ishchet ottsa” or “The Knight Seeks His Father” from ISI Yogyakarta successfully secured two awards at the event.
The two awards are the Special Prize from Novosibirsk Media for the category of preservation and popularization of national puppet theater, and the nomination “Открытие фестиваля” or “Festival Discovery.” In the context of festival awards, the term “Открытие фестиваля” can be understood as “festival find” or “best festival surprise,” which is an appreciation for a performance that is deemed to have made a strong, fresh impression and possesses special appeal among international participants.
This achievement marks an important milestone, signifying that the performing arts practices developed by ISI Yogyakarta are not only rooted in Indonesia's rich traditions but are also capable of engaging in global art conversations. Through the performance “Ksatria Mencari Ayah” (Knight Seeking Father), ISI Yogyakarta demonstrates the ability of its academic community in the arts to process narratives, performance techniques, puppet aesthetics, and cultural values into a work that is communicative to an international audience.
The IV International Festival of Puppet Theaters “Crossroads” was attended by artists and puppet theater groups from eight countries: Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, China, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan, as well as ten theaters from various cities in Russia. Over the seven days of the festival, there were performances in five venues in the city of Novosibirsk, with a total of 28 festival and public performances attended by 6,056 spectators.
This festival also opened with a large-scale puppet parade on Lenin Street, the center of Novosibirsk, which was attended by approximately 5,000 people. The presence of ISI Yogyakarta in this festival space expands the exposure of Indonesian art internationally, especially in the field of puppet theater which has a strong connection with the tradition of wayang, performance art, music, movement, and the cultural narratives of the Nusantara.
The award from Novosibirsk media to the performance “Knights Seeking Father” shows that the work of ISI Yogyakarta is considered to have an important contribution in preserving and introducing national puppet theater to a global audience. This appreciation is an acknowledgment that Indonesian traditional art can continue to be developed through academic, experimental, and cross-cultural approaches without losing its cultural identity.
Meanwhile, the “Discovery Festival” award recognized ISI Yogyakarta's work as one of the performances that left a strong impression at the festival. This acknowledgment demonstrates that artistic works originating from a fine arts campus environment are capable of offering novelty, artistic strength, and cross-linguistic communication appeal in an international forum.
The participation and achievements of ISI Yogyakarta in the festival also strengthen the institution's position as a center for higher art education that actively builds global networks. Through international participation, ISI Yogyakarta not only sends works but also brings Indonesian cultural diplomacy to the world stage.
This achievement is part of ISI Yogyakarta's commitment to developing a superior, competitive, and contemporary art ecosystem. Grounded in tradition, creativity, and artistic research, ISI Yogyakarta continues to expand its contributions as an art higher education institution capable of connecting Indonesian cultural heritage with international contemporary art dynamics.
EN 
ID