INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS FILM FESTIVALS OF 2022
Kalimantan International Indigenous Film Festival (August, 2022)
What’s IIFF?
IIFF stands for International Indigenous Film Festival, a non-profit body established to support and develop social documentary filmmaking within the context of indigenous values in preserving culture and voice the rights of indigenous people. Initiated from the grassroots level in Kalimantan since 2015. Indigenous Film Festival has evolved from a local event to an international event since 2018. The festivals are held annually as Bali International Indigenous Film Festival (BIIFF), Kalimantan Indigenous Film Festival (KIFF), Kuching International Indigenous Film Festival (KIIFF).
KIIFF and its network are a platform for regional and international indigenous filmmakers to showcase their works, to form collaboration and solidarity, and to be able to share their stories with the global audience. Each of the submitted films plays an important role to voice and pass the indigenous stories that are often untold or unheard in the mainstream media.
The Foundation
International Indigenous Film Festival is one of the major annual projects of Ranu Welum Foundation. Ranu Welum started its journey in 2014 as a youth indigenous filmmaking community based in Palangka Raya. It was started by Emmanuela Shinta, a young Dayak leader. We use audiovisual media to bring our stories, and those of the Dayak people, to the world. As a community, we often discuss and share about human rights and environmental issues faced by the Dayak people, and help young people take action. We have been active in many social activities as volunteers, dedicated to our cause.
KIIFF2021 - EARTH PROTECTOR: Heal the land, heal the future
In the past 40 years, the earth has faced a crisis. Starting from the loss of rainforests, the rise of water level, various ecological disasters such as landslides, floods, forest fires, and haze. We are having a climate emergency, 99% caused by human activity. While environmental destruction and right violation are still the biggest challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic has made indigenous communities become one of the most vulnerable groups affected.
In commemoration of International Day of the World Indigenous Peoples 2021, Kalimantan International Indigenous Film Festival - KIIFF is coming back with the theme “Earth Protector: Heal The Land, Heal The Future”. For years, indigenous people have been the guardians of the earth and the forest, and we believe that their stories must be continued to pass onto the global community. We seek to highlight the stories on how indigenous communities preserve, protect and restore the earth with their wisdom, practices, and culture. Moreover, KIIFF 2021 aims to bring the voices from the ground up and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.
KIFF 2019 — 21 indigenous films from indigenous communities of 5 different nations, 9 indigenous filmmakers present, 500+ attendants.
From August 9th to 11th 2019, three days packed with spreading awareness on indigenous rights through films created by indigenous filmmakers, panel discussion, and celebration of World Indigenous Peoples Day.