[1] In 1996, after finishing his master's degree in Britain, Soeriaatmadja returned to Indonesia, where he worked for a year at a soft drink company.
[2] It was through the making of Culik that Soeriaatmadja met directors Mira Lesmana and Riri Riza, who facilitated his entry into the industry.
"[4] The following year he released Ruang (Room), a love story starring Winky Wiryawan, Luna Maya, and Slamet Rahardjo, which was moderately successful[5][6] and garnered nine nominations at the 2006 Indonesian Film Festival, including Best Director.
The film, which starred Vino G. Bastian, Winky Wiryawan, and Raihaanun, followed a woman's struggle after being abandoned by her fiancé.
He was quoted in the Jakarta Globe as saying that he did not want to portray transsexuals as comedic fodder, an approach common in Indonesian films.