Work-in-Progress: Kabar dari Borneo

Forest and land fires in several regions of Indonesia, particularly Kalimantan, are recurring, leaving behind a trail of smoke, ecological damage, health hazards, and communities that are often forced to bear the brunt of these impacts. In 2026, West Kalimantan once again became one of the regions with the largest fire areas in Indonesia.

Behind the fires lie deeper issues: land-use changes, the degradation of peatland ecosystems, the expansion of plantations and extractive industries, inequities in land tenure, as well as policies and law enforcement that determine how forests and land are managed. Understanding karhutla means tracing the connections between ecological destruction, economic interests, and the lives of communities living within and around the affected areas.

Drawing on documentary work and experiences in West Kalimantan, this presentation opens up a space to explore how a documentary film can move beyond depictions of fire and haze to address questions about the causes, accountability, and structures that allow this crisis to persist.

This presentation is part of a research and documentary film development process that explores the issue of forest and land fires in Kalimantan.

Language of introduction
Bahasa Indonesia

Speaker
Deny Sofian — Filmmaker, Canopy Indonesia

Moderator
Kurnia Yudha F.