Mawar

Narrative Short Film
August 2023

In 2023, I wrote and directed an original short film, leading a 30-person crew comprising both professionals and first-time participants. The production took place in a rural village in Indonesia, where I collaborated with a local organization, JAF (Jatiwangi Art Factory), to train and guide the team in preparation for filming. My aim for this film is to explore the nuances of the smoking culture in Indonesia, asking the simple question: Why do you smoke?

Love What You Do

Observational Documentary Short April 2026

This documentary was created to preserve the spirit of one of my favorite local spots in Savannah, Al Salaam Deli. Tucked into a cramped, narrow restaurant space adorned with National Geographic posters and framed verses from the Quran, the deli feels like a world of its own. Through this film, I aimed to capture its distinctive charm while offering an intimate glimpse into the daily routine and beliefs of its owner, Meqbel Salaam.

Underpass

Poetic Documentary Short
May 2025

I co-directed, shot, and edited this poetic documentary short, inspired by an underpass I would pass on my way to school. The space was filled with odd layered sounds: the metallic hum of passing cars, echoes bouncing beneath the bridge, the screech and strain of trains overhead, contrasted by the softness of chirping birds. Together, these sounds transformed the environment into something almost alien, suspended between dread and tranquility. Through this film, I wanted to abstract that atmosphere and translate the emotional tension of the space into a sensory experience.

Implosion

October 2022 - Photoshop 4200 x 3300

This work was created for a design project experimenting with using Photoshop for collages. I used different pictures I've taken of Savannah and combined them into a semi-believable space where the line between interior and exterior blurs. I used a one-point perspective and a frame within a frame to help convey the feeling of an implosion.

Other Works

About me

"I want to create movies that broaden the perspective of Cinema through a global lens and connect with audiences across languages and backgrounds."

Muta Fatin is an Indonesian filmmaker currently studying Film & Television at the Savannah College of Art and Design. He’s interested in telling culturally grounded stories and experimenting with the film form to explore different ways of connecting with audiences.

His short film Mawar was awarded Best Film at the 2024 Slide Photography Film Festival in Indonesia. Much of his work draws on personal experience and his interest in diverse cultural backgrounds, often exploring themes such as identity and belonging. Having been deeply influenced by film growing up, he’s driven to tell stories that resonate across languages and cultures, with the same openness and emotional honesty that first drew him to cinema.