Solo, Faculty of Islamic Studies (FAI) Muhammadiyah University of Mataram (UMMAT) has once again achieved remarkable success on the international stage. At the VI International Sports and Arts Week (PORSENI) of Private Islamic Higher Education Institutions (PTKIS) held at the Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta, five FAI UMMAT students excelled in three competition categories, making them a source of pride for the campus and the region (September 2, 2024).
Among the achievements, Wahyu Fahmi Arsyad, a student from the Arabic Language Education program, secured 2nd place in the Hifzul Qur’an competition. Wafa Olivia, also from the Arabic Language Education program, won 3rd place in the Women’s Tilawatil Qur’an competition. Meanwhile, three students from the Islamic Communication and Broadcasting program—Intan Tamara Madhini, Reni Astika, and Astusi—won 2nd place in the Short Film competition with their work titled “Kata Lana.”
Intan Tamara Madhini, the producer of “Kata Lana,” born in Mataram on April 23, 2003, shared her team’s journey in creating the film. “The film tells the story of a child named Lana who lives with her father after her mother’s passing. Lana has a big dream of being able to read a letter from her late mother, but this wish is often denied by her father. Lana eventually meets a scavenger who patiently teaches her to read, and she manages to read her mother’s letter, which is full of moral messages,” she explained.
She further explained that the main moral message of the film “Kata Lana” is that intelligence is not only about academic achievement but also about character. “Learning can happen anywhere, anytime, and with anyone,” she said. Intan hopes that the film can inspire the community, especially in providing inclusive and equitable education for every child.
Additionally, she expressed hope that the film could open educators’ eyes to the fact that every child has the same right to learn, without discrimination. “I hope this film can serve as a reflection for teachers to avoid favoritism in teaching and not differentiate between academically strong or weaker students,” she said.
Reni Astika, the director of “Kata Lana,” born in Aik Bukak on March 23, 2005, also shared her experience about the film’s production process. According to her, one of the biggest challenges was when one of the main talents suddenly could not attend on shooting day. “We had to quickly find a replacement on location, and fortunately, we found a suitable talent to play Lana,” she revealed.
The creative process of the film took place over three days of pre-production, during which the team collectively developed the story idea, concept, and script without duplicating other works. Reni added that the film’s soundtrack is also original, with lyrics taken from poetry she wrote herself. “We used AI technology to help create the background music with my poetry as the lyrics,” she proudly shared.
The film “Kata Lana” addresses education issues in 3T (Frontier, Outermost, Least Developed) areas like North Lombok, where internet and education access are still limited. Reni hopes the film can spark dialogue about the importance of paying more attention to education in these regions.
In addition to achievements in the arts, Wahyu Fahmi Arsyad, a student in the Arabic Language Education program, also won 2nd place in the Hifzul Qur’an competition. Wahyu, born in Mataram on May 17, 2000, feels very grateful for his achievement. “Alhamdulillah, this is a very valuable experience for me.” He also emphasized that this achievement motivates him to continue developing his skills in the future. “I hope to better prepare myself for the next competition and sharpen my potential in memorizing the Qur’an,” he said.
The Dean of FAI UMMAT, Suwandi, S.Ag., M.Pd.I., expressed pride in the students who achieved success at the VI International PORSENI PTKIS. He explained that FAI UMMAT sent 10 students to compete in five categories: Hifzul Qur’an, Women’s Tilawatil Qur’an, Men’s Tilawatil Qur’an, Male Qur’anic Scientific Work, and Short Film.
“This is an outstanding achievement, considering that competitors came from Java Island, where facilities are far more complete, especially for film production,” he said. He also extended high appreciation for the silver medal won by FAI UMMAT students. “This is a clear indication that FAI UMMAT students can compete at an international level. We are very proud and will continue to support our students’ talents to participate in prestigious competitions in the future,” he added.
He also hopes that students will continue to improve their preparation for future competitions. “In the next PORSENI, FAI UMMAT will maximize its preparation to win more competition categories, which will undoubtedly bring honor to UMMAT,” he concluded (HUMAS UMMAT).