The documentary "Pesta Babi", directed by journalist Dandhy Laksono and produced by journalist Victor Mambor, depicts the struggle of indigenous people in southern Papua to defend their ancestral lands.
Although the documentary Pesta Babi tells about Indonesia, the film was first shown in Sydney instead of Jakarta. According to Dandhy, the screening of the film this time, which is on March 13, 2026, is more of a pre-screening where feedback is still taking place.
Pig Feast sheds light on the growing concern regarding land clearings in West Papua in the interest of multiple agri-business ventures, including cane sugar plantations to be utilised for bio-ethanol fuel.
The documentary features voices of Papuan indigenous peoples who are against the projects taking place in their traditional lands and who stated that they preferred to live in a thriving natural environment with clear river waters and abundant traditional staple food.
The title Pig Feast refers to a major tradition involving multiple clans of Papua’s Muyu tribe. The survival of this tradition is highly dependent on the natural environment surrounding those clans, because in order for the feast to be held, years of preparation in which pigs belonging to different clans are allowed to roam free in the forest until it comes the time to slaughter them. Within that process respect between clans is reflected in the way that each has their own territories and pigs.
The name Pig Feast itself refers to a large traditional ceremony involving various clans within the Muyu tribe of Papua. The viability of the pig feast largely depends on the state of nature around the clans involved.
Because, in order to hold this pig feast ceremony, it takes years of preparation in which the pigs that will be cooked and eaten in the ceremony are left to roam the surrounding forest until it is time to be slaughtered. In this process is implied respect between one clan and another as each has its own territory and its own pig.
Patrick Earl is the Executive Director for the Diplomacy Training Program for the Asia Pacific Region. He said the organisation, which is affiliated with the University of New South Wales’ Law Faculty, considers the movie to be highly relevant to their advocacy for the rights of indigenous peoples.
Earle said that he personally gained new knowledge from Pig Feast, such as the link between Australia’s sugar consumption and the land clearings in Papua for cane sugar plantations.
Dian Anggreini, an Indonesian student currently studying at the University of New South Wales, said she was touched by the sincerity of Papuans' love for nature, as depicted in the documentary.
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Dina Indrasafitri
