There will be 25 filmmakers flying to Bali on May 10 for the largest and most culturally diverse gathering of Indigenous filmmakers in history.The 3-day event will attract over 900 people to the 2 venues–Njana Tilem Museum and Paradiso theater in Ubud. Over three days,40 films will be screened from Ecuador,Panama,India,Nagaland,Australia,Canada, USA,Taiwan, Papua New Guinea,Malaysia and from regions of Indonesia including Kalimantan, Sumba, Papua, Malukus, Bali and Lombok. These documentary and feature films include a focus on indigenous wisdom, connection with nature, alternative solutions, land rights, success stories, forest preservation, and use of technology to support indigenous interests.

“The Bali International Indigenous Film Festival seeks to educate and empower Indigenous cultures across the globe through film.”

Emmanuela Shinta, who is a filmmaker, co-festival founder and Dayak Ma’anyan from Central Kalimantan explains, “This year’s theme of “Stories that Matter” speaks to the heart. We, the indigenous people of this country, can use film as a medium to promote and tell the stories of indigenous communities all over Indonesia. Every story matters. When I made my film, ‘When Women Fight’, I had a big story to tell, but all stories matter. Whether they are big or small, we carefully considered every film submitted, and have picked the 40 best global and local Indigenous films. I am thrilled to announce our youngest Indigenous filmmaker - Kynan, a 14-year-old Dayak Iban boy will present his excellent film from Sungai Utik, a settlement West Kalimantan. He shows daily life and offers insightful messages from the tribe, which lives by traditional adat customary law”.

Shinta goes on to explain, “By attending this film festival, as a moviegoing enthusiast, an aspiring filmmaker or an award-winning film director, we can reach out to each other and get inspiration and connect. I am so excited to be able to meet people like Cleary Vaughan-Lee from Global Oneness Project, who’s films and photo essays have been featured on National Geographic and PBS, and in The New York Times, and The New Yorker addressing tribal issues, preserving indigenous language and presents impactful indigenous documentary films from the Yukon, USA and Canada. As an Indigenous Dayak Ma’anyan, I have so much to learn from these very prominent film industry participants.”

Together, David Metcalf and Shinta, are presenting an alliance of indigenous and non-indigenous and bringing you the second Bali International Indigenous Film Festival  - a project of passion.