Not many women direct action films in Indonesia, one of them being director Upi, commonly known as Upi. In fact, Upi is more than that. The genres she plays in are not just action, but also extend to drama and even horror. Here is the profile of Upi director, the person behind the phenomenal film Serigala Terakhir and now directing the latest horror from MD Pictures, Sorop.
Upi can be said to be a versatile director. Starting her career in feature films as a horror movie screenwriter, this Jakarta-born woman has expanded her reach to various other genres. For example, comedies like My Stupid Boss (2016) and Gila Lu Ndro! (2018) to superhero fantasy, Sri Asih (2022).
However, who would have thought that the female director whose name is now mentioned alongside Joko Anwar once started as an actor’s assistant. What’s the story?
Upi Director’s Profile
Here is a short profile of the Upi director who started her career in the film industry starting on 2002.
Full Name: Santri Dania Sulfiati
Place and Date of Birth: Jakarta, 21 Jul 1972
Ethnicity: Minangkabau
Education: Universitas Prof. Dr. Moestopo (Beragama), Jurusan Komunikasi
Instagram Account: @upirocks
Career Journey of Director Upi
Quoted from Tribun News, Upi has loved movies since childhood and has had a hobby of writing since the age of 5. In her final year of high school, Upi was already trusted to write the concept for the sitcom Opera Tiga Zaman, which aired on one of Indonesia’s private television stations.
Although she eventually entered the film industry professionally, she admitted to The Jakarta Post that she had no background in film school whatsoever. In fact, her parents opposed her dream of pursuing a career in film because it didn’t promise a bright future.
“The 90s, the Indonesian film industry was sluggish. They thought the film industry offered nothing and that I wouldn’t have a future,” she said.
Upi continued her studies in the communication department at Universitas Prof. Dr. Moestopo (Beragama). While studying, she continues to nurture her dream so that it doesn’t fade away along the way. For that reason, since her first year of college, Upi decided to freelance at the production house owned by director Rizal Mantovani, namely Broadcast Design Indonesia (BDI).
Because she had already fallen in love with film, in the mid-1990s, Upi boldly dropped out of college and worked full-time at the production house. She started everything from the bottom as an actor’s assistant. Her job was to wipe the actor’s sweat and prepare their meals.
“I am not ashamed. I am happy to do it. My parents don’t even know what I’m doing,” she said.
Slowly, Upi began to absorb all the knowledge while working at the production house. She learned about the film production process and the creative processes behind it. Meanwhile, Upi also watched many films and repeated them over and over.
“I also learned about film storylines and filmmaking techniques,” she said to The Jakarta Post.
Among the many films she has watched, one of his favorites is All About My Mother directed by Pedro Almodovar. She admits ahe prefers the works of Latino directors over Hollywood films because they are more dynamic and sharp.
Upi’s efforts paid off when she was chosen as the assistant director for a music video by the band Zamrud. Then, in 2003, ahe was entrusted with writing the script for the horror film Tusuk Jelangkung.
Her debut as a new director took place a year later when she worked on the romantic comedy-drama film 30 Hari Mencari Cinta. The story is about three single women living together. They made a challenge to see who could get a boyfriend first within 30 days, and the winner would be exempted from household chores.
Next, Upi began producing many phenomenal works, such as Realita, Cinta dan Rock’n Roll (2006), Radit dan Jani (2008), and Serigala Terakhir (2009).
From those films, Upi began to be recognized as a director skilled in crafting love themes wrapped in values of rebellion. Through Radit and Jani, Upi’s name entered the running for the Indonesian Film Festival (FFI) in the categories of Best Director and Best Screenwriter.
Upi is nominated again for that through the film Belenggu (2013), along with the Best Original Story category.
Recently, Upi was entrusted to direct a horror film based on the viral thread by Simple Man, Sorop. The film is scheduled to be released on December 19, 2024.
Upi’s Filmography
- 30 Hari Mencari Cinta (2004)
- Realita, Cinta, dan Rock’n Roll (2006)
- Perempuan Punya Cerita (2008)
- Radit dan Jani (2008)
- Serigala Terakhir (2009)
- Red CobeX (2010)
- Belenggu (2013)
- Princess, Bajak Laut & Alien (2014)
- My Stupid Boss (2016)
- My Generation (2017)
- My Stupid Boss 2 (2019)
- Sri Asih (2022)
- Sorop (2024)
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Sorop (Movie)
Instagram: @soropfilm
