Yogyakarta and Central Java Youth Lead the Way in Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage through Short Films

Jakarta, August 13, 2025 - In celebration of International Youth Day, young creatives from Yogyakarta took center stage as they brought intangible cultural heritage (ICH) to life through powerful short films, screened in two community events held on August 12-13, 2025, in Banyumas, Central Java, and Sawit Village, Bantul District, Yogyakarta.

The events featured the top three Indonesian entries from the ichLinks Creative Content Contest (June-October 2024), an initiative supported by ICHCAP (Intangible Cultural Heritage Centre for Asia and the Pacific under the auspices of UNESCO) that encouraged communities across Asia-Pacific to tell stories of living heritage through digital media. In Indonesia, the competition targeted Yogyakarta youth from film schools, drawing 48 passionate participants, who immersed themselves in local traditions, conducted field research, wrote scripts, and produced original short videos capturing their cultural landscapes. The three award-winning films are:

• 1^st- "Babaran Pusaka" (Heirloom Birth) by Risang Panji Kumoro

• 2^nd - "Goresan Cerita" (The Painter of Tales) by Ragil Wahyu Aji

• 3^rd - "Dialog Dua Pohon" (Dialogue of Two Trees) by Umar Al Jufri

Their works explore intergenerational traditions, storytelling through wayang, and nature-based philosophy, offering fresh perspectives on how heritage lives and evolves.