⁠eLmar’s Muses Chapter 1: The Stories the City Whispers

eLmar, a writer and producer committed to creating inclusive spaces for conversation, opens 2026 with a short film screening that tends to urban stories—stories often pushed aside, even though they live right next to us.

In this first chapter, eLmar brings together filmmakers who have inspired her to speak up about what is often silenced: violence, realistic love stories, discrimination, and mental health. The screening will be followed by a laid-back conversation—a space to listen, share, and gently widen how we see the realities around us.

Come join our film screening—where the films are only the beginning. These four short films open quiet doors into urban life, touching on violence, discrimination, and mental health, and inviting us to sit with what feels familiar, uncomfortable, or unfinished. From there, the night unfolds into a shared conversation—bring your questions, your thoughts, and the stories the city keeps whispering.

1. Firman, Firman

   Dir: Kurnia Alexander (2024) — Firman, a closeted gay actor, tries to maintain his image while being interviewed for his upcoming movie, but his stance on a case involving a fellow queer friend might jeopardise it.

2. Kalut (Frantic)

   Dir: Aka Witharja (2020) — In a typical Indonesian household, a pregnant wife becomes the primary breadwinner, forcing her husband to confront grief, fear of miscarriage, and his shifting role as a man.

3. My Sides of Eyes (Sebelah Mata Eike)

   Dir: Andries Pangestu (2023) — Yuyun, a drag queen who struggles with self-sabotage is suddenly being attacked by a ghost who causes her to incessantly slap herself. However, she still has to carry out a private show devoted to a large family of conglomerates.

4. A Layman’s Idea of How a Breakup Should Be

   Dir: Dito Prasetyo (2025) — Olivia and Rio meet at a spot that used to mean something to both of them. They've been together for years, but lately, things haven't felt right. As they talk, the cracks in their relationship come into focus. Nothing dramatic happens: just two people trying to say what's hard to say, and maybe realizing a little too late what they've taken for granted.