Controversy over Pig Feast Film Screenings: Government and DPR Affirm No Ban Exists

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Widespread controversy has arisen regarding the prohibition of public screenings of the documentary film titled “Pesta Babi” by Dandhy Dwi Laksono in various regions. For instance, a screening in Ternate was disbanded by TNI personnel. Similarly, an event at the University of Mataram (Uniram) was forced to stop after being disbanded by campus security. Reasons for the rejections varied, from permit issues to the film’s content being deemed provocative. The film “Pesta Babi” is a documentary that discusses land conflicts, indigenous communities, and the involvement of authorities in national strategic projects (PSN). It depicts how ancestral forests, which are the lifeline for the Marind, Awyu, Yei, and Muyu tribes, are being cleared for large-scale bioethanol and food security projects. The title “Pesta Babi” refers to the Muyu community’s cultural tradition known as Awon Atatbon. This tradition relies on the sustainability of Papua’s forests and environment. Thus, the title “Pesta Babi” is used as a metaphor that forest destruction also threatens the cultural identity of indigenous peoples. Following the widespread disruptions of “Pesta Babi” screenings, the government and the DPR have jointly affirmed that there is no prohibition. Yusril stated that the bans on screenings at the University of Mataram and UIN Mataram in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), were due to administrative matters. “Not all campuses prohibit the screening of this documentary film. At the University of Mataram and UIN Mataram in Lombok, the screening was banned due to administrative procedure issues only. Meanwhile, at other campuses in Bandung and Sukabumi, the screening proceeded without any hindrance,” Yusril said in a written statement on Thursday (14/5/2026). According to Yusril, this pattern indicates that the disbandment or halting of screenings was not a directive from the Government or law enforcement authorities in a centralised manner.