The Indigenous Film Festival is coming to the city of Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan as Kalimantan Indigenous Film Festival - KIFF2019.

A two-day event to present the Dayak Arts and Culture to promote sustainable development and women economic empowerment in rural Kalimantan.

This is the sixth country where I am going to have the STORIES THAT MATTER tour. I have come to Kuching, Sarawak quite often but this trip will be very different. Besides launching the book, video showcase and story telling, there will be another surprise in the tour! Stay tune.

Started from the grassroot level by local communities in Kalimantan in 2015, the Indigenous Film Festival has grown into a full-fledged event with international audience in Bali last year, and has since traveled to Bhubaneswar in India and back to Kalimantan this coming May before making a stop in Kuching as part of RFF2019.

On 22-23 June 2019, stakeholders and audiences from across the world will come together in Bonn to zoom in on the transformative role of rights and rights-based approaches for securing a more just, sustainable and prosperous future for all. GLF Bonn 2019 will explore the essential contributions of Indigenous peoples, local communities, and rural and Indigenous women and youth in achieving the SDGs and the Paris Agreement.

I remember clearly writing my goals in the beginning of 2018. I wish to expand our works to US and Europe. By God’s grace, it happened. I visited the States in October 2018 and had video showcase and some talks. I wrote again early in 2019 the same goal: I want to visit Europe. What a surprise that it will gonna be happen soon! I will be in Germany on 18-26 June.

“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.

First time I came to Sustainable Solutions at GS was in 2016. It was hard to forget because the energy was so positive and yes, the ice creams tasted soooo good! This year it becomes more special because for the this year it brings the theme Indigenous Wisdoms, Indigenous Knowledges in which GS is inviting indigenous people from around the world to connect, learn and share solutions to respect and protect their wisdom of the earth.

After a year, I am coming back to this annual cultural celebration in my home country, Barito. This is the place where my community, Dayak Maanyan tribe, live. The Festival Nan Sarunai Jajaka happen from 28 April - 2 May. it is an annual celebration where hundreds of bracelet dancers are performing (shaman,  shawoman,  children , youth and elders) and celebrating the culture.

While the title of my tour is Stories That Matter, it does not simply mean bringing about Dayak and Kalimantan issues to different audiences in another countries. This is a journey where every indigenous person can find his place and speak his voice, because their stories matter.

Again, I am honored to be invited as APWT's guest for this year conference that will be held in Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia on 5-7 December 2018. I am excited to come and of course introducing my latest book ME, MODERNISM AND MY INDIGENOUS ROOT that will share my experience in discovering my identity as an indigenous Dayak Maanyan woman who was born in the 20th century when digitalization has been overtaking human's world! 

This is an adventure to bring forth the ancient sounds from my beloved homeland, Kalimantan, to the world. Just in next few weeks, I will be bringing these stories to Oz. Dayak music, dance and song will come to four cities along with film showcase, talk and book launch.

Jagadhita is such a powerful word to represent the beauty and the struggle of indigenous people. When we are in the position to be victim of the supreme forms of capitalism, we choose to be a hero for the sake of our communities and in our own place.