In exciting news, our Indonesian-based partner organisations have shared in a powerful experience together. Participating in Ranu Welum’s Kalimantan Indigenous Film Festival (KIIFF), Yayasan Pendidikan Budaya Mentawai (YPBM) were awarded the Special Jury Award for their Co-Production of feature documentary film “Mentawai: Soul of the Forest”.

Suku Mentawai (YPBM) representative and co-collaborator on Mentawai: Soul of the Forest, Martison Siritoitet, accepts the Special Jury Award at the Kalimantan Indigenous Film Festival – KIFF 2024  . Photo: Ranu Welum

Founded by the Ranu Welum Foundation (Central Kalimantan), KIFF is part of a larger initiative known as the International Indigenous Film Festival (IIFF). KIIFF aims to support and advance social documentary filmmaking within the context of traditional values. Ranu Welum Founder, Emmanuella Shinta, explains that “This year’s KIIFF coincided with the celebration of International Indigenous Peoples Day, themed ‘Empower. Embrace. Elevate: Honoring the Strength of Indigenous People.’ The theme reflects the festival’s mission to empower, embrace, elevate, and celebrate the strength of indigenous communities worldwide.”

Ranu Welum Founder, KIFF Director, and young Dayak Leader, Emmanuela Shinta. Photo: Ranu Welum

One facet of IEF’s mission is to support Indigenous peoples across the Asia-Pacific to build robust networks between different Indigenous groups. KIIFF is one such intersect where our partner organisations, Ranu Welum and YPBM, are building connections and advancing collective efforts in advocating for Indigenous rights amongst their communities and beyond.

 Mentawai’s Martison Siritoitet, a representative of the YPBM, initiator and co-collaborator of film “Mentawai: Soul of the Forest,” attended this year’s KIIFF on behalf of YPBM. Martison states, “KIIFF was not just a film festival but a celebration and recognition of indigenous cultural wealth and collective efforts to preserve it. The outcome of this being that myself and other KIFF participants are able to support and collaborate to safeguard indigenous cultures and rights.”

A team of young Indigenous leaders and participants at KIFF 2024 . Photo: Ranu Welum

The Mentawai film presented at KIFF was Directed by Joo Peter, who met Martison and first learnt about YPBM’s mission in 2018 at the Bali Indigenous Film Festival. Joo was inspired by Martison’s short film and presentation about his Mentawai culture and a friendship soon seeded, leading now to the hugely successful film collaboration.

Co-collaborators, Martison and Joo, on location in Buttui regions during production of their co-Production, Mentawai: Souls of the Forest. Photo: YPBM

IEF continues to draw much inspiration from Ranu Welum and is honoured to sponsor events such as KIIFF. Ranu Welum is creating a powerful platform for amplifying indigenous voices and protecting cultural knowledge through video-based modes of knowledge transmission.

We’re excited to watch KIIFF grow into the future, celebrating stories of Indigenous people’s strength and recognition of indigenous cultural wealth and collective efforts to preserve it. IEF will continue support Indigenous groups across the Asia-Pacific in safeguarding their indigenous cultures and rights, and supporting Indigenous-led initiatives that amplify cultural knowledge in all modes of transmission.

IEF is incredibly proud of our partners Ranu Welum and YPBM in their outstanding work.

Click HERE to learn more about the Indigenous film festival initiative and KIIFF

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