For the first time, the Asian Military Action Film had been recognized at the 2025 Urban Action Showcase International Action Film Festival (UASIAFF) held at Regal Cinema in Times Square, New York. Last Saturday, Believe, a film produced by Celerina Judisari, a producer who originally came from Indonesia, won three category awards: Best VFX (Visual Effects), Best Action Sequence, and Best Military Action Movie.
“This is really surprising. I never thought that Believe has been recognized by New York filmmakers, especially the urban action film fans who attended this awesome festival”, expressed Celerina Judisari, a producer and founder of Bahagia Tanpa Drama Film Production. “I really appreciate the judges and film committees who selected Believe and gave us three awards. So excited.”, said Judisari after she received the awards, at the festival cinema lobby.
The film Believe is inspired by the biography of General Agus Subiyanto of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, based on the book “Believe: Faith, Dream, and Courage” by Valent Hartadi. Starring Ajil Ditto, Wafda Saifan Lubis, Adinda Thomas, Marthino Lio and Indonesian legendary film actress Maudy Koesnaidi, this action-drama movie tells a true story of resilience and dedication to achieve the meaning of life. The film, directed by Rahabi Mandra and Arwin Tri Wardhana, captures the dignity, strength and military professionalism that define the great soldiers of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI).
Set in West Java and Timor Islands, the film gains an interest by blending local culture with the discipline of military life. One moment that really stood out for international viewers was a simple scene where the main character, a soldier, brings spinach to his girlfriend’s mother. After the screening, an American audience member turned to me and asked with genuine curiosity, “Why did he give her spinach? Is spinach a popular food in Indonesia?”. It’s small cultural scene detail like this that makes Believe so engaging, reminding us how ordinary gestures can carry a deep meaning across different worlds.
And yet, this film isn’t about promoting or glorifying the military. It's about the personal journey of a soldier who places humanity and compassion above everything else, even when it means sacrificing himself. The title beautifully captures these values, weaving them into a heartfelt drama inspired by a true story.
Believe brings into the world of Pencak Silat, the renowned Indonesian martial art widely studied and practiced within the Indonesian military. The film’s exceptional action sequences are choreographed by Dinar Safari, a seasoned stunt man and martial artist skilled in Silat, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Karate, and Muay Thai. His expertise delivers authentic and physically intense scenes, enhanced by the refined cinematography of Padri Nadea, which captures both the energy and emotion of each moment. With its suspenseful action and visual storytelling, Believe resonates strongly with audiences familiar with The Raid series, a hallmark of Indonesia’s globally recognized urban legend action cinema.
“I am impressed with the quality of the film. The photography, acting and music are very well done”, said Pedro Martin, a producer, filmmaker from The Pedrucer. “It’s a wonderful film, it delivers the story well and I enjoyed it to the end”, added Martin who is also a communication director of DCTV, New York.
Previously, Believe had already received awards as the Best Action Movie from the Bollywood Hollywood International Film Festival in Las Vegas and Best Director from the Montreal International Film Festival. Believe has been watched by over one million viewers in Indonesia, and last October, it was officially released in Malaysia in collaboration with Antenna Entertainments (Asia Pacific) and Media Move (America & Europe) to expand its global reach.
"These awards are not only for our hard work team but also for the Indonesian film industry. I have confidence, with the support from New York Film fans, that Believe will be in the US film market soon”, added Judisari closing the interview.
NYReader / Amanda Tamara