Papua Film Festival 2025 for Indigenous Rights

• Movie, Cinema, TV

A diverse mini-festival with the latest short documentaries from West Papua and Indonesia starts its tour through Germany and the Netherlands.

The captivating short films shed light on current developments in West Papua - a region where civil and armed conflicts characterize everyday life, where thousands of internally displaced people live and where environmental destruction caused by mining and the timber industry threatens the livelihoods of the indigenous population.

Shot on location by activist filmmakers, the documentaries also tell positive stories of resistance, struggles for social justice and the fight against environmental destruction.

At the screenings, there will be an introduction by the filmmakers present and a subsequent film discussion with an open conclusion.

The event series is a cooperation between Watch Indonesia! e.V, West Papua Network, Peace Brigades International Germany, Jubi and Samenwerkenden Organisaties voor West Papua.

FILMS

Black Pearl “General of the Field”

Director: Mauris Yansip,

Producer: Victor Mambor, Indonesia 2023 - 30' OMUE

After winning the Indonesian Premier League for the fourth time, the Jayapura-based Persipura Football Club, better known as “The Black Pearl”, has captured the imagination of many Papuans and the entire Indonesian soccer community and is the pride of Papua. The club is now a symbol of the dignity and self-esteem of the Papuan people.

The Sound of Grime Valley (2023)

Director: Angela Flassy,

Producer: Victor Mambor, Indonesia 2023 - 31:03', OMUE

“The Grime Valley” tells the story of the indigenous people of Grime Valley defending their ancestral land against the onslaught of investment, as well as those affected by palm oil investment. The forest, known for its cocoa production and bird of paradise sightings near Jayapura, is almost lost because the palm oil company PT PNM has opened it up to palm oil plantations, even though the operating license has been revoked by the president.

Pepera 1969, A Democratic Integration?

Director: Hengky Yeimo,

Producer: Victor Mambor, Indonesia 2023 - 37', OMU

A film about the highly controversial 1969 United Nations vote on the incorporation of West Papua into the Republic of Indonesia. Only 1026 Papuans took part in the UN referendum, which was to be held nationwide and was controlled by the Indonesian military. Those who voted were threatened with violence, torture and death, and yet Australia and the United Nations accepted the so-called “Act of Free Choice” as a legally binding referendum that sealed West Papua's fate as part of Indonesia.

My Name is Pengungsi (Refugee)

Director: Yuliano Lantipo,

Producer : Victor Mambor, Indonesia 2023 - 37:48', OMUE

Pengungsi Kogoya and Pengungsi Wakom are two of many internally displaced children who were born in the middle of the jungles of West Papua, namely in Nduga, Puncak Jaya and Maybrat, because their parents fled the armed conflict between the Indonesian National Army/Police (TNI/POLRI) and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)