The 2024 Kalimantan International Indigenous Film Festival (KIIFF) has been successfully held by the Ranu Welum Foundation together with Partners, a major event that brings together local and international film works with themes from indigenous communities. This event, which lasts for three days, from Thursday, August 22 to Saturday, August 24 2024, not only shows a variety of films, but also becomes a lively cultural and artistic collaboration event in Central Kalimantan.
This festival was attended by variousl Civil Society Organisations and loca business players who added to the lively atmosphere with typical local products. Not only that, this event was also enlivened by various performances from local artists. Other artists also attended to share their work through live music, dancing, painting and drawing.
On this occasion, Emmanuela Shinta, the festival co-founder and director, explained that this Festival was an initiative to support and develop filmmaking that raised themes of cultural preservation, nature protection and the rights of indigenous peoples.
“Starting locally in Kalimantan in 2015, the festival has grown into an international event since 2018 with more than 1000 live audiences, 510 films, 213 indigenous filmmakers from Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and Africa, as well as 43 indigenous communities involved," she explained.
This year's theme, "EMPOWER, EMBRACE, ELEVATE: Honoring the Strength of Indigenous Peoples", truly reflects the spirit of elevating the strength of indigenous peoples in the eyes of the world.
The main goal of KIFF 2024 is to provide a space for filmmakers from indigenous communities to tell their own stories to a global audience. It is hoped that this can change existing stigma and misconceptions and open up space for dialogue between indigenous and non-indigenous communities regarding culture, traditions and traditional ways of life which contribute to global efforts to overcome the climate crisis.
The hope is that more and more young people from ethnic groups will dare to speak out through audiovisual media, so that the global narrative about indigenous peoples can change and support the fulfillment of their rights at various levels.
KIFF 2024 highlights include film screenings of 26 works from 24 peoples and countries, including South America, Africa, India, and Malaysia. Some of the filmmakers who attended included Sarah Lois from Sarawak, Martison from Mentawai Island, Alya Maolani from Lombok, Dimas from Banjar, and Anggrino from North Kalimantan. There were also 30+ side events such as panel discussions, talk shows, seminars, live musics, workshops, creativity showcases, etc.
At the end of the event, winners were announced for several categories. The Best Film Award was won by The Longhouse of Apai Indai by Pawadi Jihad from West Kalimantan. The Special Jury Award was given to MENTAWAI: Soul of the Forest by Joo Peter and Martison Siritoitet, while the IMPACT Award was won by HEAR IN BETWEEN by Andini P. Savitri which raised the issue of disability (deafness). There were also Honorable Mention awards given to the films NADI by Sarah Lois (Sarawak), DUSNER by Umar Al Jufri (Papua), and AMAQ KEDUREK by Alya Maolani (Lombok).
KIFF 2024 truly shows that film can be a powerful medium for elevating voices that often go unheard. The festival not only celebrates the creativity of filmmakers from various indigenous communities, but also encourages much-needed global dialogue on cultural diversity and environmental conservation. With more and more extraordinary works being produced, we can be optimistic that the future of cinema, especially those that focus on indigenous and environmental issues, will be even brighter and more impactful. KIFF has become an important platform, not only for indigenous communities in Kalimantan, but also for the international community seeking a deeper understanding of human diversity and the challenges facing indigenous communities. We hope that this festival will continue to grow and have a positive impact on all parties involved.
Written by Khabar.co id