JAKARTA, ThedailyID – Director Cypri Paju Dale has spoken publicly about the controversy surrounding the documentary film Pesta Babi: Colonialism in Our Time.
The documentary, produced with Dandhy Laksono, has drawn significant public attention in recent weeks. In addition, several public screenings and discussion events reportedly faced rejection in some regions.
Cypri believes the debate likely emerged because the film uses the term “colonialism” in its title.
According to him, the documentary aims to describe the situation faced by Indigenous communities in Papua to a broader audience.
“This film was created so people can better understand what is happening in Papua,” Cypri said in a video uploaded by Ekspedisi Indonesia Baru.
He explained that the documentary combines historical research, anthropology, investigative journalism, and policy analysis.
Because of this, the production team chose the term “colonialism” as a framework to analyze various issues occurring in Papua.
Cypri argued that terms such as conflict, human rights violations, and deforestation do not fully explain the overall situation.
According to him, those issues remain interconnected within a long-standing system.
In addition, he said some Papuan communities have long used the term colonialism to describe their experiences and relationship with Indonesia.
Cypri acknowledged that the film may raise important questions about the relationship between Indonesia and Papua.
Therefore, he encouraged the public to discuss the issue openly and honestly.
The documentary Pesta Babi: Colonialism in Our Time was released in 2026 by Ekspedisi Indonesia Baru.
The film highlights Indigenous communities’ struggle to defend their land rights.
One of the main issues discussed in the documentary involves the National Strategic Project (PSN) in South Papua. Some groups believe the project has affected the environment and Indigenous communities.
Government Allows Public Screenings and Discussions
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra stated that the government does not prohibit public screenings or discussions of the documentary.
According to Yusril, people should not react solely because of the film’s controversial title.
He also said the public should have space to watch and openly discuss the documentary.
“Criticism like this is still reasonable in a public space,” Yusril said in a written statement.
In addition, the government believes criticism presented in the documentary can serve as material for evaluating project implementation in the field.
However, Yusril emphasized that previous attempts to cancel screenings or discussions did not come from directives issued by the central government.
