Selected Participants
The selection process for Shorts Up 2026 was organized by Minikino, focusing on identifying promising short film projects and dedicated production teams. A total of 43 project applications were received and carefully reviewed by the Minikino team. Each project was evaluated based on the applicant’s portfolio, proposed project, and motivational statement.
Following this review, 7 projects were successfully shortlisted. The final selection was entrusted to this year’s program mentors, Mickey Lai and Putu Kusuma Wijaya. From the shortlist, 5 projects were selected to officially participate in the Shorts Up 2026 program during Minikino Film Week 12. The final selections were officially announced in late July 2026.
Congratulations to all shortlisted and selected teams, and a heartfelt thank you to everyone who submitted their inspiring projects!
Owen Effendi
Writer
Owen Effendi (b. 2003) is a Jakarta-based filmmaker whose work examines family relationships, social expectations, and human complexity. A Beijing Film Academy Cinematography graduate, he explores tensions between personal desire and collective duty. His short film Gecko was selected for the Minikino Film Week 12 National Competition.
Aria Gardadipura
Producer
Aria is an Indonesian producer, screenwriter, and reviewer with over 15 years in cinema. In 2016, he founded Cine Crib, a premier YouTube review channel with 300k+ subscribers. Having directed 8 documentary and fiction works since 2005, his acclaimed short horror film JURIG won Best Fiction at the Bandung Independent Film Festival and screened at festivals globally, including Miami Epic.
Razny Muhammad Mahardika
Writer
Razny is a South Tangerang screenwriter and director (Padjadjaran University, 2018) bridging fantastical visuals with grounded narratives. His acclaimed short films include Journey to Iftar, Mantra Futura (Busan Film Commission backed), and A Must-see Movie Before You Die, screened at JAFF and Calgary IFF. He is currently establishing production house Kinovia and growing film platform Cine Crib.
Vandy Woo
Writer
Vandy Woo is an Indonesian Chinese filmmaker who honed his storytelling by making early YouTube comedy videos. To deepen his directing, he acted across series, theater, and film from 2022 to 2025. His short film Throughout These Cages was selected for the Busan International Film Festival. Vandy blends digital and real-life experiences to craft relatable stories about everyday humor and truth.
Muhammad Aryo Bimo
Producer
Aryo Bimo is a Jakarta-based audio-visual producer and Film graduate from the Jakarta Institute of the Arts. He began his career in commercial production in 2020 before expanding into music videos in 2021. Together with Ryan Sebastian, he co-founded Studio Miring. His work spans music videos for major Indonesian record labels as well as audiovisual projects for brands and organizations.
Ryan Sebastian
Writer
Ryan Sebastian is an award-winning director and editor, recognized as Best Young Film Director at ReelOzInd 2018. An Archaeology graduate from Universitas Indonesia, he has directed music videos for artists including Nadhif Basalamah and edited documentaries and EPKs. He is co-founder of Studio Miring, teaches audiovisual storytelling at Remotivi, and collaborates with NGOs on visual campaigns.
Jiehan Putri Azzahra
Producer
Jiehan Putri Azzahra is an Indonesian film producer active since 2021 across shorts, documentaries, commercials, and features. Known for producing Nanggok (2nd Runner Up at Sewonderland International Film Competition), she focuses on personal, grounded stories. She collaborates closely with emerging talent to bring projects from initial concept to festival screenings and audiences.
Lolaa Adiya Putri
Writer
Lolaa Adiya is an Indonesian filmmaker focusing on emotional, character driven stories. Her acclaimed short film Bagi Tiga (Divided by Three) won the Golden Light Prize at the Seoul International Kids & Youth Film Festival 2024 alongside multiple local awards for Best Movie, Director, and Screenplay. She is also the founder and director of Creativeunoia, a production house.
CLICK TO SEE THE SHORTS UP 2026 CATALOG
Mentor & Facilitator
Mickey Lai
Mentor | Malaysia
Born and raised in Malaysia, Mickey Lai is a Master’s graduate in film and TV production from the MetFilm School, London. She is interested in telling stories about diverse cultural values, mortality, and identity. Her latest short film, WAShhh (2024), was awarded the Pardino d’Oro SRG SSR for the Best International Short Film at Locarno77. Her directorial short debut, The Cloud Is Still There (2020), was selected for Busan, Clermont-Ferrand, and Shanghai. Her documentary short, A Worm, Whatever Will Be, Will Be (2022), won the Jury Award at SeaShorts. She is also a directing alumnus of Locarno Spring Academy 2025 and Golden Horse Film Academy 2024. Her first feature project, In Quiet Hands, is selected for development at Torino Script Lab 2026.
Putu Kusuma Wijaya
Mentor | Indonesia
Putu graduated from the Netherlands Film Academy in Amsterdam in 1994, then worked for several years at a private television station in Jakarta before deciding to return to his hometown in Singaraja, Bali. Several of his documentaries have been screened at international festivals such as IDFA Amsterdam (The North Wind), Rotterdam Film Festival, Shanghai Film Festival, and the Taiwan Documentary Film Festival (On Mother’s Head).
Fransiska Prihadi
Facilitator | Indonesia
As Program Director of Minikino, Fransiska Prihadi has served as a guest programmer, preselection committee member, and juror for numerous national and international film festivals, including the Busan International Short Film Festival, Image Forum Festival, Minimalen Short Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival. She also brings extensive experience as a facilitator and mentor for short film programming and film criticism workshops.
About
The Indonesian film industry has grown significantly over the past 20 years, yet many Indonesian filmmakers still face skill and knowledge gaps. Founded in 2024, SHORTS UP was created to bridge this divide by supporting emerging talents who lack access to opportunities, resources, and information to make their short films. Through this initiative, SHORTS UP nurtures fresh perspectives and enhances industry diversity, specifically for Indonesian short filmmakers.
The budget for the SHORTS UP 2026 program is built upon the self-funding of Yayasan Kino Media, designed to support a progressive series of short film talent development activities running from April to September 2026.
Our Journey & Milestone
Since its inception in 2024, SHORTS UP has established a strong track record through strategic partnerships:
2024 (Inaugural Year): Fully endorsed and supported by the Manajemen Talenta Nasional (National Talent Management).
2025 (Second Year): Funded by the Purin Film Fund and received Shorts Up Showcase support at MFW11 from the Manajemen Talenta Nasional.
Strategic Focus for 2026
Entering its third edition in 2026, Yayasan Kino Media is committed to ensuring the program’s sustainability independently.
Consequently, a strategic budget efficiency has been implemented. We are channeling all internal resources exclusively into core components that yield a direct impact on the participants’ growth:
- Capacity Building: Direct allocation for intensive mentoring with national and international film professionals and curriculum development.
- Industry Access: Full access facilitation to industry forums, pitching sessions, and networking events at Minikino Film Week 12.
- Travel & Accommodation: To ensure that internal funds are strictly maximized for the quality of mentorship and industry access, all selected participants will independently cover their own travel and accommodation expenses for the physical events.
Overall, the SHORTS UP 2026 budget structure is designed to be both efficient and transparent. By centering its financial allocation on creative investment and professional networking expansion, the program consistently ensures an optimal impact on strengthening the Indonesian short film ecosystem.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Registration is open exclusively for Indonesian filmmakers, starting Tuesday, 9 June 2026 and closing on Tuesday, 30 June 2026 at 12:00 PM (noon) WITA.
Registration link:
https://minikino.org/fm_SHORTSUP2026
Participants whose documents pass the initial evaluation will be invited to participate in the interview process.
A total of four production teams or individual writers will be selected.
PROVISIONS for the selected projects:
- SHORTS UP Dosis 3 (Online): Intensive 1-on-1 online mentoring with international script doctors to develop and refine your short film script.
- SHORTS UP Booster 1 (Online): Collective online training to master professional project pitching.
- SHORTS UP Showcase (In-Person): Pitch and present your selected project live at the 8th Short Film Market during Minikino Film Week 12 (MFW12) in Bali.
- SHORTS UP Booster 2 (In-Person): Exclusive networking sessions and meetings with international industry guests at MFW12.
Travel & Accommodation (Co-Sharing Scheme):
Selected teams are required to contribute a fixed fee of Rp 6.000.000. This package guarantees:
- 1 (one) return flight ticket to Denpasar, Bali.
- Accommodation in Denpasar for 5 (five) nights during MFW12 in September.
- Note: Any additional or remaining costs exceeding this amount will be fully covered by Minikino.
Personal Expenses: Daily meals, local transportation in Bali, internet, and other personal incidentals are to be covered at the participants’ own cost.
Credit Acknowledgment & Media Rights:
- Selected projects must credit Minikino and SHORTS UP in the final film’s credits.
- Minikino reserves the right to use participants’ photos, video recordings, and interviews from the event for non-commercial promotional purposes.
TIMELINE:
| Activity | Dates | Remarks |
| Webinar:Introduction Shorts Up 2026 | Wednesday, 17 June 2026 21:00 – 21:45 Central Indonesian Time (WITA) | open with registration: |
| Open Call for Shorts Up 2026 Participants | Tuesday, 9 June 2026 and closing on Tuesday, 30 June 2026 at 12:00 PM (noon) WITA. | Registration link: |
| Selected Participants Announcement | Wednesday, 22 July 2026 | |
| SHORTS UP Dosis 3 | Week V July 2026/ Week I August 2026 | online mentoring |
| SHORTS UP – Booster 1 | Week IV August 2026 | online mentoring |
| SHORTS UP Showcase at MFW12
And SHORTS UP – Booster 2 |
Friday, 11 September –Friday, 18 September 2026 | Minikino Film Week 12 – Bali Short Film Festival(Attending in person) |
WHO CAN APPLY:
This program is open to short film production teams that meet the following criteria:
General Eligibility
- Indonesian Citizenship: Applicants must be Indonesian citizens with valid official identification (KTP or Passport).
- Age & Team Composition: Open to filmmakers aged 21 to 40 years old. Applicants may apply individually as a Writer/Director (if they do not have a producer yet), or as a two-person team consisting of a Producer and a Writer/Director.
- Project Requirements: Must possess a fiction short film script or a documentary short film treatment ready to be developed during the SHORTS UP program.
- Commitment & Passion: Must be fully available and committed to participating in the entire timeline of the program, demonstrating a strong passion for filmmaking and career development in the film industry.
- Communication & Internet Access: * English Proficiency: Applicants must be proficient in English and prepared to submit required documents (e.g., script, pitch deck) in English.
- Active Communication: Must be able to communicate effectively via email, as strong communication skills will be considered during the selection process.
- Internet Access: Must have stable internet access for regular participation in all online sessions (Dosis 3 & Booster 1).
- Diversity & Inclusion: SHORTS UP prioritizes diversity and inclusion. We warmly welcome applicants from all social backgrounds, cultural heritages, and gender identities.
Responsibilities & Team Setup
- Application Process: Registration must be completed through the official form by the Lead Applicant.
- For individual applicants, this is the Writer.
- For team applicants, this is typically the Producer.
- Main Contact & Commitment: The person submitting the application will act as the primary contact person and will hold full responsibility for ensuring all program commitments are met if selected.
- Team Structure Options: To accommodate various stages of project development, applicants may apply under one of the following setups:
- Individual: A Writer/Director applying alone (if a Producer is not yet attached to the project).
- Team: A two-person team consisting of one Producer and one Writer/Director.
- Attendance Requirement: Whichever setup is chosen, the selected individual or both team members must fully participate in all online mentoring sessions and the physical events at MFW12.
Required Documents (Before Applying)
- Scanned ID (KTP) for both applicants.
- Formal portrait photos of both applicants (clear and face visible).
- Signed statement letter confirming commitment to the program.→ [Download Template]
- Preview link to at least one completed short film, with accompanying metadata.
- Project document outlining your short film production plan for 2026.→ [Download Template]
Film Project Requirements:
- For fiction, animation, or experimental fiction films: Maximum duration of 15 minutes. The project must be in pre-production
- For documentary or experimental documentary films: Maximum duration of 15 minutes. Only eligible if it is a work in progress with footage available for preview.
For inquiries, contact shortsup@minikino.org