EU-funded film “Semesta” to debut on Netflix on Indonesia’s Independence Day

29.07.2020
Jakarta

The EU-funded documentary film “Semesta” – directed by Chairun Nissa and produced by Mandy Marahimin and Nicholas Saputra – will start streaming on Netflix as of 17 August 2020, coinciding with Indonesia’s 75th Independence Day.

EU-funded film “Semesta” to debut on Netflix on Indonesia’s Independence Day

 

The EU-funded documentary film “Semesta” – directed by Chairun Nissa and produced by Mandy Marahimin and Nicholas Saputra – will start streaming on Netflix as of 17 August 2020, coinciding with Indonesia’s 75th Independence Day. Produced under the “EU Support to Indonesia’s Climate Change Response” project, the feature-length documentary film will be available worldwide, bringing a positive message of how local communities, local wisdoms and values are at the forefront of combating the climate change.

The documentary explores seven provinces across Indonesia and features the human side of conservation efforts while simultaneously highlighting the diversity of religions, beliefs, and cultures across the nation.

Semesta, the Indonesian word for “Universe”, connects the real and immediate impacts of climate change to the everyday life of Indonesians across the country and shows the actions that communities are already engaged in to conserve the environment. The examples in the movie are from urban and rural contexts, demonstrating a wide range of actions that can be taken. A particular focus is on urban settings, addressing the urban population and in particular the youth as drivers of change.

“The film facilitates discussion on complex issues such as climate change through popular culture, which proved to be effective for the urban youth – one of the key target groups of the film,” said EU Ambassador to Indonesia Vincent Piket. “Through simple storylines, the documentary shows how to start small changes to help the fight against climate change,” added Ambassador Piket.

The film is a collaboration between the EU and the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK). The producers, together with KLHK and a local NGO, are planning a youth campaign around the movie, which includes public screenings of the film in remote areas.

The film had its world premiere in November 2019 at the 26th SUNCINE International Environment Film Festival in Barcelona, Spain, and was nominated in the Best Documentary category at the 2019 Indonesian Film Festival (FFI).

The official trailer of “Semesta” can be viewed on Netflix social media accounts:

 

BACKGROUNDER

 

About “EU Support to Indonesia’s Climate Change response” project

Working with Indonesia's Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), the “Support to Indonesia's Climate Change Response – Technical Assistance Component” (SICCR-TAC), funded by the European Union with €6.5 million, has strengthened local capacities to contribute to the national strategy on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+).

Implemented between February 2016 and January 2019, the project had:

  • enhanced the Government of Aceh's capacity in its efforts towards low-carbon, low-emission economic development, with a particular focus on building capacity in Forest Management Units;
  • helped develop a roadmap to strengthen the five regional units of KLHK's Directorate General of Climate Change;
  • contributed to the 'greening' of provincial development plans (RPJMD) and the incorporation of climate change commitments and targets in the official planning and budgeting frameworks which will govern provincial policies for the next five years.

 

 

 


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