As part of the Projek Penguatan Profil Pelajar Pancasila (P5), this year’s Pandora program at SMA Pembangunan Jaya 2 Sidoarjo presented a special learning experience. Pandora itself stands for Panggung Dolanan Bahasa dan Sastra, an annual program designed to sharpen students’ creativity through language- and art-based works. This year, Pandora adopted the theme of local wisdom, but in the creative process, students were given the freedom to interpret and explore their ideas.
The results were highly diverse. From poems by Indonesian writers, 10th-grade students were encouraged to interpret the meaning, create a synopsis, and then adapt it into a film script. Each class was divided into two groups, with each group producing one film with a maximum duration of 15 minutes. With three classes involved, this year’s Pandora produced six short films that varied in theme and style of presentation. What makes them special is that all the films originated from poetry, making this process a form of comprehensive literary appreciation and transformation.
The film premiered at Cinepolis Cito Surabaya on June 19, 2025. This was the first time Pandora’s work was screened on the big screen in collaboration with an external partner, after previously only being screened internally in the school auditorium.
“Every year, we strive to create a different concept. Two years ago, the concept was to produce a stage play without dubbing, focusing on script understanding. Last year, each class created a 30-minute film. This year, we limited the duration to 15 minutes, allowing each class to produce two films. The most significant difference is the collaboration with Cinepolis Cito, and we also began inviting parents, though not all of them. Perhaps next year we can expand it further, depending on the situation,” said Gigih Pebrianto, the head teacher in charge of the Pandora activity, on Saturday (June 28, 2025).
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All 10th-grade students attended as both filmmakers and the main audience for the premiere of their works. 11th-grade students and some 12th-grade representatives were also invited to watch the films. Teachers and some parents were present, creating a warm and supportive atmosphere inside the cinema. The area around the studio was bustling with students queuing to buy popcorn and other snacks, making the viewing experience feel even more real and festive. Some students appeared nervous as it was their first time seeing their faces and work on the big screen, watched by many pairs of eyes. The official posters and trailers prepared beforehand further emphasized that this was not just a school assignment, but a work worthy of professional dedication.
Despite some technical issues that led to a studio relocation, the students remained enthusiastic throughout the entire screening series. The experience added its own behind-the-scenes story, highlighting that the creative process is not just about the result, but also the journey and memories built together. During the screenings, several scenes successfully elicited laughter from the audience, particularly from films featuring humorous elements or witty dialogue characteristic of teenage comedies. On the other hand, drama and horror films also managed to create moments of silence, as if the audience were fully immersed in the story being told.
“Alhamdulillah, based on our discussion yesterday, I think the results are excellent. There are no shortcomings; everything is already extraordinary. If there are any shortcomings, they are more related to technical issues outside the film-making process, such as IT problems. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the entire organizing committee, including the 10th-grade students, who managed to create films in a very short time amidst a packed schedule, yet still produced extraordinary works. Everything looked very professional,” said Gigih Pebrianto with proud.
As a closing, the event continued with the presentation of symbolic awards to several selected film categories, such as Best Film, Best Acting, Best Cinematography, and many more. Though not a competitive event, these awards serve as a form of appreciation for the students’ efforts and dedication in bringing their works to fruition from start to finish.
Editor in Chief : Evelyne Dian P.
Journalist : Evelyne Dian P.
Editor & Translator : Evelyne Dian P.
Photo : Event’s photographer
English 
Indonesian
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