UMN Talent in The Film “Setan Alas!”, Now Playing in Theaters

“Setan Alas!”, a horror film featuring UMN talent, is now playing in Indonesian theaters.

“Setan Alas!”, an Indonesian film with a meta-horror concept, officially premiered in Indonesian theaters on March 5, 2026, after previously screening at several international film festivals. Behind the film’s production lies the contribution of the University of Multimedia Nusantara (UMN) community, both on-screen and off-screen.

One of them is Winner Wijaya, a 2015 graduate of UMN’s Film Studies Program, who plays the role of “Amir.” In “Setan Alas!”, “Amir” is portrayed as one of the students trapped in a terrifying situation while spending the weekend at an old villa with his friends. The situation takes a drastic turn when one of them is mysteriously murdered, while their attempts to escape the forest only bring them closer to the threat of supernatural forces.

According to Winner, the film’s journey to finally hitting theaters took quite a long time. He revealed that the production team had to wait over two years to secure a screening schedule in Indonesian theaters.

“Of course, we’re very happy that our film finally has the opportunity to be screened in Indonesian theaters after waiting in line for a screening schedule for over two years,” Winner said.

Winnier Wijaya [far left] at the screening of “Setan Alas!” at the 2024 Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. (Doc. Winner Wijaya)

Before its wide release, “Setan Alas!” first had its world premiere at the 2023 Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF). At that screening, the film received a rousing reception from the audience and was among those whose tickets sold out quickly. Winner shared that the audience’s reaction during the festival screening was an unforgettable experience for the production team.

“The audience’s reaction was incredible—many were screaming, laughing so hard they were rolling on the floor, swearing, and there was a long round of applause at the end of the film,” he said.

Following that, the film also competed in the Best Horror Film category at Fantastic Fest, one of the largest genre film festivals in the United States. The film was then screened again at the 2024 Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, expanding its reach to an international audience.

For Winner, his involvement in “Setan Alas!” was also a significant experience because this film marked his debut as an actor in a feature-length film. He admitted feeling nervous during filming, but his prior acting training helped him understand the dynamics of film production.

“Setan Alas!” was a significant experience for Winner Wijaya as it marked his debut as an actor in a feature-length film. (Doc. Winner Wijaya)

Filming took place at a villa in the Kaliurang area of Yogyakarta, known locally for its haunted reputation due to past suicides and murders. Despite this, the film’s production proceeded smoothly. Winner even recalls an unexpected incident on the first day of filming when the car he was driving in a scene suddenly failed to brake.

“In front of the car were the camera crew’s tent and various camera equipment; they scattered as the car approached. Finally, I pulled the handbrake lever; the car screeched to a halt, but unfortunately, a camera slider got dented from the impact. It turned out that the car was the director’s favorite. Just imagine—on the first day of shooting, and causing such a commotion, I felt guilty. Fortunately, Mas Yos [director of the film “Setan Alas!”] took it in stride,” Winner recounted behind the scenes of the film “Setan Alas!”

UMN Visual Communication Design Program lecturer, Clemens Felix Setiyawan, S.Sn., M.Hum., during the pre-sound post process for the film “Setan Alas!” at the UMN Sound Design Lab. (Doc. Clemens Felix Setiyawan)

Beyond the screen, UMN faculty members also contributed to the film’s musical aspects. Clemens Felix Setiyawan, S.Sn., M.Hum., a lecturer in the Visual Communication Design Program at UMN, served as the music director for the production of “Setan Alas!”.

Felix explained that the musical approach in this film was designed based on the script and intensive discussions with the director. He also added a unique element specific to the film “Setan Alas!”, namely a traditional vibe.

“Since this isn’t just a typical horror film but a meta-horror film, the sound design and film music scoring naturally have to evoke a meta-horror atmosphere—not just tension and mystery,” Felix explained.

The music recording process for the film “Setan Alas!”. (Doc. Clemens Felix Setiyawan)

The creative process of composing the music began with a script analysis session with the director to identify the sound and music requirements for each scene. Once production was underway, Felix then compiled various sound assets and musical compositions tailored to the progression of each scene in the film.

“Music in a film serves to enhance the atmosphere. Furthermore, the scenes in the film—whether they evoke joy, sadness, tension, or other moods—greatly rely on music to ensure that the film’s atmosphere resonates with the audience,” Felix said.

During the production process, the film’s music production also involved the creative ecosystem within the UMN community. Felix invited faculty members, alumni, and campus laboratory staff to collaborate on the project, including the production of the film’s theme song titled “Dalang Setan,” which was produced at the UMN Faculty of Arts and Design Laboratory. According to Felix, involving the campus community in professional projects is a way to provide students with real-world experience.

Felix also highlighted how practical experience is provided to students through the Sound Design course in UMN’s Visual Communication Design program. In this course, UMN students are tasked with creating a range of audio-visual works independently, from jingles to advertising videos, with all sound, music, and visual assets created from scratch.

“These midterm and final projects are always streamed on YouTube, and to this day, the works of UMN Visual Communication Design students who took the Sound Design course can still be enjoyed on YouTube. The YouTube links are as follows: https://www.youtube.com/@sounddesigndkv5008 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnW5NgbJunQ&t=11s,” Felix, who is currently pursuing a PhD in the arts at the Bali Institute of the Arts, said.

Felix also believes that UMN students have tremendous potential in the creative industry, especially when supported by a learning approach that combines theory and practice. The involvement of alumni, faculty, and campus facilities in the film “Setan Alas!” serves as an example of how the UMN community contributes to the national creative industry. For students aspiring to pursue a career in the film industry, this experience also demonstrates that works originating from the campus environment can develop into works that reach a broader industrial stage.

By Melinda Chang | UMN News Service

English translation by Levina Chrestella Theodora

Kuliah di Jakarta untuk jurusan program studi Informatika| Sistem Informasi | Teknik Komputer | Teknik Elektro | Teknik Fisika | Akuntansi | Manajemen| Komunikasi Strategis | Jurnalistik | Desain Komunikasi Visual | Film dan Animasi | Arsitektur | D3 Perhotelan , di Universitas Multimedia Nusantara.