Jakarta — A strong sense of Papua filled the red carpet in Jakarta during the gala premiere of the children’s film Teman Tegar: Maira – Whisper from Papua on Tuesday (27/1). Beyond the presence of stars and state officials, the evening carried a powerful story of Papuan indigenous wisdom now resonating on the national stage.
Directed by Anggi Frisca, the film presents Papua not as an exotic backdrop, but as a living space rich with meaning. Through the character of Maira (Elisabet Sisauta), a 12-year-old girl from the Papuan highlands, audiences are invited to understand an indigenous worldview that honors the forest as a “mother” that sustains life.
Continuing the journey of Tegar (M. Aldifi Tegarajasa), the film weaves a cross-cultural friendship grounded in Papuan values: courage, solidarity, and responsibility to protect ancestral lands. The customary forest is portrayed not merely as a stretch of greenery, but as a spiritual realm, a source of sustenance, and a collective identity for Papuan communities.
“For Papuans, the forest does not belong to humans; humans belong to the forest,” said Anggi Frisca.
“This is the value we want to convey to Indonesian children in a simple and honest way.”
The gala premiere also became a space for cultural dialogue. Government officials in attendance emphasized the importance of safeguarding Papua without severing its indigenous roots. Deputy Minister of Forestry Rohmat Marzuki highlighted the recognition of customary forests as a form of respect for Papuan ways of life, while Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Anis Matta noted that the film reflects Indonesia’s diversity united by shared values.
Chair of the Papua Special Autonomy Committee, Velix Wanggai, described the film as a new narrative of Papua—not as a land of conflict, but as a center of ecological wisdom relevant to the future of the nation.
The film’s cultural authenticity is reinforced through a deeply participatory production process. Seventy percent of the crew consists of Papuan youth, and the cast underwent four months of intensive training, including immersion in customary traditions, body language, and the relationship between humans and nature.
“We want Papua to tell its own story,” Anggi emphasized.
“This is a collaborative work—from Papua, for Indonesia.”
Producer and humanitarian doctor Dr. Chandra Sembiring views film as a cultural medium capable of bridging empathy on a massive scale. For him, children’s stories offer the most honest way to introduce indigenous values to a world increasingly disconnected from nature.
The first film, Tegar (2022), received awards in more than 22 countries and was watched by over 1.7 million students across Indonesia. Now, through Teman Tegar: Maira, the story evolves into a voice of Papuan culture—a whisper from the forest reminding humanity of its origins.
