The short documentary film “The Candles From The Edge,” directed by Aru Dewangga, a doctoral student in Environmental Science at the Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (SPs UGM), has earned recognition at the Inspiring Asia Micro Film Festival 2026 Regional Indonesia. The movie was selected as one of four finalists in the Best Project Award category, with the Regional Screening & Awarding Day held on September 11, 2026, at Ice Palace, Lotte Mall, Jakarta.
The film was also selected to represent Indonesia in the Inspiring Asia Semi-Finals, allowing it to appear at the Inspiring Asia Grand Final in Manila, Philippines, where it will compete with participants from other countries across Asia.
Aru said he was surprised that his film received recognition at the Inspiring Asia Micro Film Festival 2026 Regional Indonesia. The documentary highlights three serious challenges facing agriculture: declining water and soil quality, high production costs and land degradation, and declining interest among younger generations in becoming farmers.
“These three issues inspired us to make a film focusing on the Mulyo 1 Farmers Group in Gentungan Village, which has adopted an integrated organic farming system,” he said on Monday (Sept. 5).
According to Aru, farmers in the area independently produce organic fertilizer, formulate environmentally friendly botanical pesticides, utilize renewable energy, and organize the Rumah Tani Educational Tourism program, helping reduce production costs while preserving the environment.
The farming community has also launched the Rumah Tani Educational Tourism Program, which gives children from elementary to senior high school, as well as university students, an engaging way to learn about agriculture. The program encourages younger generations to continue the profession.
“The film tells the story of the Mulyo 1 Farmers Group and how it addresses these three challenges,” he said.
Through the film, Aru hopes to convey that rice and other food do not simply appear on the table but result from farmers’ hard work and must therefore be sustained.
He also hopes to restore young people’s interest in agriculture and make farming a profession that provides a decent livelihood and greater prosperity. Therefore, he is sharing the methods implemented by one farmers’ group so others can adopt them.
Aru added that the film can provide new information for farmers, academics, and the general public and encourage them to adopt the system implemented by the Mulyo 1 Farmers Group to promote agricultural sustainability. They can adapt the system to the conditions of the ecosystems in their respective regions.
“We hope this film can serve as a bridge connecting farmers, academics, and the general public in discussions about agriculture in Indonesia,” he said.
The Inspiring Asia Micro Film Festival features three main categories: Best Project Award, Best Micro Film Award, and Best AI Film Award. Aru’s achievement through the film demonstrates that academic and artistic works can complement one another, while also showing that UGM students can contribute to global issues through creative, innovative, and impactful media.
Author: Jesi
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Jasmine Ferdian
Photograph: Aru’s Documentation