We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cedric Christophorus a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am Cedric Christophorus, a filmmaker and media educator. I was born and raised in Indonesia, and my passion lies in telling human-curated and empathy-driven stories, infused with my unique cultural perspective within the entertainment industry.

Throughout my professional journey, I have had the privilege of producing, directing, and writing a diverse range of projects, spanning from short films and animations to stage productions. Notably, I produced and animated a captivating 30-minute musical titled “Songs of the Silk Road,” which serves as a representation of Christianity. Through one of my short films, I voiced the experience of nationalism and racism faced by Chinese Indonesians, while also shedding light on gender issues within the LGBTQIA+ community within the confines of a highly conservative Christian university. It has always been my goal to use storytelling as a means to amplify diverse perspectives and foster empathy, bridging people together.

Aside from my passion projects, I am currently working as an Executive Assistant of Education and Understanding at one of the top leading black-owned production companies, Ava Duvernay’s ARRAY, as well as independently crafting social content through @cinemainclusion, where I aim to champion quality films, highlight underrepresented changemakers, and make filmmaking education accessible.

Cedric, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

One of the most meaningful projects that I directed and wrote is titled “To Him.” It all began with an internal conversation I had with myself and my past, accompanied by the question: should I tell the story of a queer community in the midst of a highly conservative Christian school? With that question lingering in my mind for days and months, I knew I had to write it. Summoning my courage, I pitched the idea to my professor at the time, and fortunately, it received the green light. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to collaborate with exceptional crews and talented individuals who shared the same mission: breaking down the barriers of prejudice in an unexpected setting. The film has since achieved success in various festival screenings, having been selected for eight different festivals, including the NATAS Michigan Chapter and Lift-off Sessions.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal can be summed up in one sentence: to cultivate more Indonesian filmmakers, showcase more queer Asian stories, and make a statement to my country that these narratives can achieve success within the Hollywood ecosystem.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I cannot emphasize enough the immense benefits of utilizing LinkedIn for those starting on their professional creative journey. Connect, connect, and connect. Engage in informational conversations with industry professionals, maintain curiosity, and stay updated on your peers’ projects. In essence, nurturing authentic relationships within the industry can lead to a gradual opening of doors of opportunity. Begin with the goal of connecting with at least five new people each day, and by the end of the month, you will have developed numerous valuable connections.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cedric-christophorus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cedrictjaha/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophorus-cedric/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiS381EVVwAM7UmuTuPjGww

Image Credits
Delvin Victor Fernando Joshua Dohun Lee