Stories that once whispered through the forests and flowed along the rivers have found their way back to the screen through the Kalimantan International Indigenous Film Festival (KIIFF) 2025.
This year, the festival carried the theme "Preserving Indigenous Ecological Knowledge," celebrating and safeguarding the ecological wisdom of Indigenous peoples, knowledge that has guided communities for generations in protecting nature, sustaining livelihoods, and maintaining harmony between people and the environment.
The festival's journey began long before the opening ceremony. Since June 2025, KIIFF traveled to Indigenous villages, schools, and community spaces across Kalimantan, hosting film screenings and open discussions. Each gathering became a space where elders and young people exchanged stories, filmmakers met audiences, and cinema served as a bridge connecting generations while amplifying Indigenous voices rooted in forests, rivers, and ancestral lands.
As part of its pre-festival activities, KIIFF organized a Storytelling and Writing Competition under the same theme, Ecological Knowledge, inviting young people to share their perspectives on Indigenous ecological wisdom through creative writing. Another initiative, "Bioskop Bisik", created an inclusive film experience for persons with disabilities by providing assistive technologies and accessible screening formats, reaffirming the festival's commitment to ensuring that Indigenous cinema can be enjoyed by everyone.
Throughout the festival week, a series of panel discussions and side events explored some of the most pressing issues facing Indigenous communities today. One panel highlighted disability within Indigenous communities, bringing together disability advocates and Indigenous elders to discuss inclusion, accessibility, and representation. Other discussions addressed land rights, local food sovereignty, environmental protection, climate justice, and social inequality, featuring speakers from Indigenous organizations, academia, civil society, and grassroots movements.
This year's festival also marked an exciting collaboration with the Festival Film Indonesia (FFI). The presence of FFI Chair Prilly Latuconsina and FFI Ambassador Sheila Dara reflected the growing recognition of Indigenous cinema within Indonesia's national film landscape. Throughout its preparation and implementation, KIIFF collaborated with more than 30 local and international organizations and communities, demonstrating the strength of collective action in preserving Indigenous cultures and advancing environmental justice.
“The journey of Silogui at the Kalimantan International Indigenous Film Festival 2025 felt like an arrow returning to its origin, guided by culture, spirit, and the stories we share. This festival reminds us that cinema is not merely a screen, but a mirror of identity,” said Jerry Oktaviandi, filmmaker of Silogui and recipient of the Best Feature Film Award at KIIFF 2025.
The festival’s closing night was filled with emotion and togetherness. More than 1,000 people attended the events in person, gathering in a celebration that brought together communities from various Indigenous sub-tribes. As the Indigenous Declaration was read, a deep silence embraced the peatland waters, as if every breath became a prayer for resilience, identity, and hope.
Through films, conversations, artistic expression, and intergenerational exchange, KIIFF 2025 once again demonstrated that cinema is far more than entertainment. It is a living archive of Indigenous knowledge, a space for cultural remembrance, and a bridge connecting ancestral wisdom with the aspirations of future generations. By preserving and sharing Indigenous ecological knowledge through storytelling, the festival continues to strengthen collective efforts to protect both cultural heritage and the natural ecosystems that sustain life.