Pesta Babi – Colonialism in our time, by Dandhy Laksono: NoBar and Q&A with the filmmaker

Synopsis of the film:

Yasinta Moiwend, a Marind Anim woman in Merauke, was startled when, on a quiet morning, a massive ship docked at her village pier. The vessel carried hundreds of excavators under escort by military forces, sent to Papua for a National Strategic Project for food production, palm-based biodiesel, and sugarcane bioethanol.

Vincen Kwipalo, from the Yei community, was likewise shocked when his clan’s land was suddenly marked with a sign reading: 'Property of the Indonesian Army'. Only later did he learn that the land had been seized for the construction of a military battalion headquarters, at the very moment when sugarcane, a plantation company, was also encroaching on his ancestral forest.

'Pig Feast' combines detailed field recordings with in-depth research to examine the power structures behind the operation. It exposes how government and corporate entities—collaborating with military and religious groups—advance international and national goals of 'food security' and 'energy transition' at the expense of Indigenous communities and landscapes.

The documentary illustrates the networks of Indonesian elites, oligarchs, and multinational corporations that benefit from the project, providing a vivid depiction of the political ecology of Indonesian governance in Papua. 'Pig Feast' serves as a record of colonialism that remains intact today.

Please be aware that this film includes historical and contemporary footage of victims of violence in a range of global contexts, which may be distressing for some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.

About the director: 

Dandhy Dwi Laksono is an Indonesian activist, investigative journalist, and filmmaker. He is known for his critical documentaries which look at how political and business interests collude to undermine democracy, infringe on human rights and destroy vulnerable natural and social environments in Indonesia. Born in East Java, Dandhy Laksono majored in International Relations at Padjadjaran University in Bandung, West Java, before founding the research-based documentary and audio-visual production house Watchdoc.

For this event, Dandhy Laksono will be in conversation with Dr Rini Astuti from ANU, an expert in just transitions, critical minerals, and political ecology in forest/peatland landscapes in Indonesia. Dr Astuti’s work examines how place-based politics, actor agencies, and justice dynamics shape the outcomes of climate, environment and energy transition policies.

• Light refreshments at 5.30pm

• Film screening, and Q & A session at 6pm