Sheds light on Jakarta’s sinking threat while gaining international recognition for its powerful message on climate change

Indonesian has once again gained international recognition with The Atlantis Mussels, a student-made short documentary, winning Best ShortDoc at the Megacities-ShortDocs Film Festival 2024. This achievement is particularly noteworthy as the film highlights a pressing environmental issue—the risk of Jakarta sinking by the 2030s due to climate change. This compelling subject matter caught the jury’s attention and ultimately led to the film’s success in its category.

Directed and written by Rachmat Kurniawan Idrus, with Azyd Aqsha Madani as the producer, the film began as a simple idea that the two developed together. Their decision to submit it to the festival turned out to be a rewarding one, securing them a prestigious win.

As the Best ShortDoc winner, The Atlantis Mussels not only gained international recognition but also earned a €1,000 cash prize (around IDR 17.3 million), an official award certificate, and an exclusive screening at the awards ceremony in Paris on May 23, 2024.

Beyond this victory, the film also became part of the 9th Positive Cinema Week, an event affiliated with the Cannes Film Festival 2024. It has been showcased at numerous international film festivals throughout 2024, including: Digital Artifex Film Festival (March 17), Earth Stories Film Festival (April 22), Bali International Film Festival (June 6), Saratov Sufferings Film Festival (September 5), One Earth Film Festival (September 22), Vaasa Wildlife International Film Festival (September 25).

To honor this achievement, the festival organizers invited The Atlantis Mussels team to attend the awards ceremony in Paris. Initially, only Azyd Aqsha was set to travel due to limited accommodation support. Fortunately, Universitas Multimedia Nusantara (UMN), where Rachmat is currently studying, provided additional support, allowing him to join the trip. This assistance enabled Rachmat to accompany his teammate, further reinforcing the spirit of Indonesian students in showcasing their work on the international stage.

Inspiring the Next Generation

The success of The Atlantis Mussels is a testament to how creativity and social awareness can make an impact on a global scale. What started as a small idea turned into a film that resonates internationally. Rachmat and Azyd have proven that Indonesian students have immense potential to contribute to the global film industry.

Their achievement serves as an inspiration for young creators to keep pushing boundaries, addressing critical issues, and bringing Indonesia’s creative talent to the world stage.

photo source : instagram.com/atlantismussels

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