MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The Consulate General of India in Medan, in collaboration with Indonesia Youth Diplomacy (IYD), held the Indian Film Festival 2026 at Maple Theater, Grand City Hall Medan, on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. The event brought together students, lecturers, young people and Friends of India to experience Indian cinema while exploring the role of language in bridging cultural differences and challenging stereotypes.
The festival not only offered entertainment through a film screening but also created a space for exchanging ideas about cultural relations between India and Indonesia. The participation of students, academics, youth organizations and the wider public reflected the strong interest of the younger generation in Indian culture, cinema, languages and various opportunities for people-to-people cooperation between the two countries.
Students and lecturers from Universitas Katolik Santo Thomas also attended the event. The involvement of the academic community was particularly significant, as cultural exchange through film and dialogue provides young people with an opportunity to gain a more direct understanding of perspectives within another country's society.
Cinema as a Bridge Between Cultures
The Indian Film Festival 2026 featured the widely acclaimed Indian film English Vinglish. The film tells a story about family, self-confidence and identity, as well as the challenges that arise from linguistic and cultural differences.
Through the development of its main character, English Vinglish conveys a message about the importance of learning and personal growth. The film also shows that age should not be a barrier to acquiring new knowledge, including learning a language.
This message takes on additional significance in the context of intercultural relations. Language is not merely a means of conveying information, but can also help people build confidence, better understand their social environment and develop relationships with people from different cultural backgrounds.
The Consul General of India in Medan, Mr. Ravi Shanker Goel, encouraged students and all participants to draw inspiration from the film. He emphasized that learning is a lifelong process and has no age limit.
He also explained that language can serve as a powerful bridge connecting people, cultures and societies. Therefore, students were encouraged to continue learning, explore new cultures and use their language skills as a means of better understanding others and building closer relationships.
This message was one of the central themes of the festival: learning experiences, language skills and openness to other cultures can contribute to creating more inclusive relationships in an increasingly interconnected society.
FILM AS INSPIRATION: Consul General of India in Medan, Mr. Ravi Shanker Goel, encourages students and participants of the Indian Film Festival 2026 to draw inspiration from the film to continue learning and exploring new cultures. (PHOTO: Consulate General of India in Medan)
Language Against Cultural Stereotypes
In addition to the film screening, the Indian Film Festival 2026 featured a talk show entitled "Finding Her Voice: How Language Breaks Cultural Barriers and Stereotypes." The discussion explored the transformative role of language in building confidence, strengthening intercultural understanding and promoting inclusion.
The talk show featured three speakers: Ms. Elnoviamy, Founder of The Language Access; Ms. Melly Christin, Co-Founder of SHEraya Indonesia; and Ms. Sares Wari, Chair of IYD North Sumatera.
The three speakers shared their perspectives and experiences on the role of language in empowering people, particularly women and young people. They also discussed how language skills can help overcome cultural barriers while challenging stereotypes that are prevalent in society.
The discussion placed language within a broader context. Language is not merely a communication tool, but can also be an instrument for empowering individuals and a pathway toward better mutual understanding.
Language skills enable people to engage with societies from different backgrounds. This opens opportunities to discover experiences, ideas and cultural values that may previously have been unfamiliar or poorly understood.
The dialogue during the talk show also encouraged participants to view linguistic diversity as an opportunity for mutual learning. Differences do not have to be barriers to communication; instead, they can serve as a starting point for developing a broader understanding.
The discussion about women and young people also highlighted that the ability to express one's thoughts and ideas can strengthen self-confidence. When people are given the opportunity to speak and be heard, language can encourage greater participation in society.
LANGUAGE FOR INTERCULTURAL UNDERSTANDING: The three speakers of the talk show "Finding Her Voice: How Language Breaks Cultural Barriers and Stereotypes" discuss the role of language in empowerment, intercultural understanding and overcoming stereotypes. (PHOTO: Consulate General of India in Medan)
Film and People-to-People Diplomacy
The
Indian Film Festival 2026 also demonstrated the role cinema can play in
cultural diplomacy. Films bring people together through stories rooted in human experiences, even when audiences and filmmakers come from different geographical and cultural backgrounds.
Through films, people can gain exposure to different perspectives without having to leave the places where they live. Stories portrayed on screen can introduce audiences to values, traditions, social challenges and everyday experiences that may previously have been unfamiliar to them.
In the context of relations between India and Indonesia, events of this kind create a space where people from both countries can further strengthen their people-to-people ties. Cultural diplomacy does not take place exclusively at the government level, but also through encounters between people, education, art, language and the exchange of experiences.
The Consulate General of India in Medan expressed its appreciation for the collaboration with Indonesia Youth Diplomacy and Universitas Katolik Santo Thomas, as well as their involvement in organizing the festival.
The cooperation, according to the organizers, opened further opportunities for young people to participate in cultural and educational exchange. By combining film screenings with discussions, participants not only enjoyed cinema but also engaged in conversations about issues related to culture and social life.
The Indian Film Festival 2026 concluded in an atmosphere of appreciation, reflection and dialogue. The event once again underscored the close friendship between India and Indonesia while highlighting the important role of the younger generation in strengthening cultural relations between the two countries.
Cinema and language emerged as two key instruments that brought festival participants together. Both demonstrated that cultural differences do not necessarily have to become barriers to people-to-people relations. Instead, differences can become a source of learning when people are willing to get to know one another, communicate and develop mutual understanding.
Through the Indian Film Festival 2026, the Consulate General of India in Medan and its partners also further strengthened the space for cultural exchange in North Sumatra. The event is expected to encourage more young people to gain a deeper understanding of the cultures of India and Indonesia and to actively contribute to building increasingly closer relations between the people of both countries. (IDNC)
REPORTER:
Darmailawati | EDITOR:
Fik Sagala