WAINI Vol. 6 is positioning student animation on a wider stage by combining screenings, discussions, exhibitions, and interactive activities in Yogyakarta. The festival is also framed as a bridge between young creators, creative communities, educational institutions, and industry players, with the aim of reaching audiences beyond local circles.
The Ministry of Creative Economy/Badan Ekonomi Kreatif has expressed support for the event because it aligns with efforts to strengthen animation as one of the drivers of Indonesia’s creative economy. That support comes as the film, animation, and video sector continues to show significant economic potential, with the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/BKPM recording a value of Rp2.15 trillion in 2025.
A Festival Built for Connection
WAINI Vol. 6 carries a new identity as the International Student Animation Festival. Its theme, “ENTRAPHORIA,” and tagline, “Animating Connection, One Story at a Time,” underline the festival’s emphasis on building connections through stories and animated works.
The event is scheduled to take place on 30 April to 3 May 2026 at the Concert Hall and the Multipurpose Building of ISI Yogyakarta. The format is designed to give visitors more than a chance to watch finished works, since it also opens space to understand the creative process behind animation.
Support for Young Creators
Deputy for Media Creativity at the Ministry of Creative Economy, Cecep Rukendi, sees WAINI as an important platform for young talent to present its work to a broader audience. He also stressed that stronger collaboration among communities, campuses, and creative industry actors is needed to build a more resilient animation ecosystem.
Cecep said moments such as WAINI can bring together creators from different backgrounds and create opportunities for lasting collaboration. In that sense, the festival functions not only as a screening venue, but also as a meeting point for a wider creative network.
Programs That Go Beyond Screening
The festival program includes national and international film screenings and discussions, illustration exhibitions, and interactive installations such as zoetrope animation, grid barrier animation, storyboard corners, and traditional animation showreels. These elements show that WAINI is structured to highlight both the final result and the artistic process that leads to it.
Visitors can also take part in participatory activities such as Rimbun Project x Storyline, which invites participants to draw together and turn the result into animation. Other features include game exhibitions by students and local studios, Interactive Collage Mural, and educational programs such as SKENI, or Sekolah bareng WAINI, along with talk shows and mini workshops.
A Broader Network of Partners
WAINI Vol. 6 involves partners from different sectors, including Bank Indonesia, SAE Indonesia, Gobelins Paris, and IFI Yogyakarta. Their involvement reflects the festival’s growth through institutional support and international links.
Such collaboration helps broaden curatorial standards, strengthen creative education networks, and give young creators more access to new perspectives. In the context of a student animation festival, international partners can also sharpen views on quality and on how creative work can develop further.
Open to the Public
Program Director WAINI Vol. 6, Destianawati, said the festival is intended as a place for young creators to grow together. She emphasized student filmmakers and younger generations bringing fresh ideas into the animation field.
“WAINI kami hadirkan sebagai ruang apresiasi sekaligus ruang belajar,” Destianawati said. She added that the festival wants to give student filmmakers a larger stage so that young people’s work receives recognition and becomes part of a growing ecosystem.
Alongside the main agenda, WAINI also presents STICKTOK, or Stick The Token, which encourages visitors to explore the entire event area. WAINIMART provides space for creators to display and sell creative products, including art prints, zines, and merchandise.
The festival is open to the public free of charge and is aimed at students, professionals in the creative field, and general audiences interested in animation. With its mix of appreciation, education, and public interaction, WAINI Vol. 6 shows how a student festival can connect young talent, the creative industry, and a wider audience.