Unpad Rejects Screening of Pig Feast Film, What is the Reason?
A joint viewing and public discussion event for the film Pig Feast, scheduled for Saturday, 16 May 2026, has reportedly been denied permission by the Rectorate of Universitas Padjadjaran (Unpad). The event was organised by the Unpad Postgraduate Student Association.
Based on a notification letter from Unpad’s Directorate of Student Affairs seen by Tempo, they are unable to grant permission for the activity as it coincides with the Ascension of Jesus Christ holiday and collective leave.
The Directorate also suggested that the Unpad Postgraduate Student Association reschedule it for a different day outside 14-17 May 2026.
Unpad’s Director of Student Affairs, Inu Isnaeni Sidiq, confirmed the letter. According to Inu, in line with the 13 May letter, the campus rejected permission for 16 May as it falls on a holiday.
“We ask that it not be held on a holiday or collective leave day. Why? Because our staff also need to take leave,” Inu said when contacted by Tempo on 14 May 2026.
Inu stated that he does not object to any discussion activities. Especially since the event organised by the Unpad Student Association is indeed intended for academic purposes. In fact, Inu said, the campus will ask the organising committee to produce a publication from the discussion results for publication in a scientific journal.
Inu also permitted the organising committee to reschedule the event for another date. “As long as the venue is available, why not?” he said.
Contacted separately, the Head of Unpad’s Public Communication Office, Dandi Supriadi, said that regulating permissions for events is standard practice for all student organisations holding events on campus during holidays. “Of course, they will not receive permission because the campus is on holiday with no facilities and infrastructure staff working,” Dandi told Tempo.
According to Dandi, the rejection of activity permissions is actually not unusual at Unpad, particularly regarding event schedules or venue availability.
Dandi emphasised that Unpad will not obstruct discussion activities on any issues as long as they remain within academic bounds.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Unpad Postgraduate Student Association, Enaldi, has not responded to Tempo’s confirmation messages as of this report.
The joint viewing event for the film Pig Feast “Colonialism in Our Time” by directors Dandhy Dwi Laksono and Cipry Paju Dale has indeed been in the spotlight after several cancellations.
One of them was the documentary film screening of Pig Feast at the University of Khairun’s Student Activity Building in Ternate on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, which was dispersed by a uniformed TNI officer. The General Chair of KAFRAPALA, Asriati La Abu, said the dispersal of the film screening occurred on Tuesday night, around 22:56 WIT.
Asriati recounted that initially, a campus security officer came to take documentation of the joint viewing activity for the film by directors Dandhy Dwi Laksono and Cipry Paju Dale. “After that, security returned for the second time with one TNI member and immediately stopped the activity,” Asriati told Tempo on Wednesday, 13 May 2026.
Previously, soldiers also dispersed a Pig Feast film screening event held at the pendopo of Benteng Oranje, Ternate.
The Commander of Kodim 1501/Ternate, Colonel Inf Jani Setiadi, alluded to permission issues and SARA (ethnic, religious, racial, and inter-group) concerns behind the dispersal. Jani also claimed that the event involving the Ternate Independent Journalists’ Alliance (AJI) and several student organisations lacked permission.
“In addition to permission aspects, the authorities also examine the material and theme of the activity deemed sensitive to the public,” Jani told reporters on Tuesday, 12 May 2026.
Jani also mentioned that the use of the film title and banners reading ‘Pig Feast’ was seen as potentially causing misunderstandings and provoking negative public reactions due to SARA issues.
The documentary film Pig Feast highlights the lives of indigenous communities in South Papua. The documentary explores agrarian conflicts and the loss of customary forests due to the expansion of large-scale projects that threaten food sources and local traditions.