Novianto made his feature film debut in 2009 with Jagad X Code, for which he also wrote the story.[1]Jagad X Code was set in a village alongside Code Stream in Yogyakarta, which had received support from Y. B. Mangunwijaya but was forced to be self-sufficient after Mangunwijaya's death. It followed three youths from the village who, unable to buy the things they want owing to omnipresent poverty, agree to find a flash drive for a local thug.[2][3]
In 2011 Novianto's television filmPapi, Mami, dan Tukang Kebun (Father, Mother, and the Gardener) won twelve prizes at the FTV Awards in Jakarta, including Best Director.[4]
Novianto's second feature film, Tanah Surga... Katanya, was released in 2012.[1] He won the Citra Award for Best Director for the film, being selected over more established directors such as Hanung Bramantyo and Teddy Soeriaatmadja; the film itself was selected as Best Film.[5][6] Novianto described it as a surprise, but suggested he was burdened by the prize because he would be pressured to produce better work the following year.[7]
"Filmografi Herwin Novianto" [Filmography of Herwin Novianto]. filmindonesia.or.id (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Konfiden Foundation. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
"Ini Nominasi FFI 2012" [These are the Nominations for the 2012 IFF]. Republik (in Indonesian). Jakarta. 27 November 2012. Archived from the original on 6 January 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
"JagadXCode Filmnya Orang Jogja" [JagadXCode Film for Yogyakartans]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Jakarta. 4 February 2009. Archived from the original on 3 January 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
"Penghargaan Tanah Surga... Katanya" [Awards for Tanah Surga... Katanya]. filmindonesia.or.id (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Konfiden Foundation. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2013.