Fact Check: Is "Pesta Babi" Documentary Film Funded by Foreigners?

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An Instagram [archive] post featuring a poster claims that the director of the documentary "Pesta Babi" (Pig Feast), Cypri Paju Dale, admitted his work was funded by foreign parties. This narrative emerged after authorities disrupted public screenings of the film across several regions.

"There are indeed certain parties, including those from abroad and major nations, who provided us with substantial financial support to produce the film 'Pesta Babi,'" Cypri allegedly wrote in the post.

However, is it true that Cypri Paju Dale stated that the film was funded by foreign powers?

FACT CHECK

Tempo interviewed the director of "Pesta Babi" and reviewed credible media reports. The findings confirm that Cypri Dale never stated that the film was funded by any foreign country. "Pesta Babi" is an investigative documentary co-directed by Dandhy Dwi Laksono and Cypri Jehan Paju Dale, born out of a joint effort among several domestic institutions.

Cypri Jehan Paju Dale confirmed that he never made any such assertion. The circulating claim is entirely fabricated. "It is a complete hoax," Cypri Dale told Tempo when contacted on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.

According to Cypri, the film was produced through a collective effort of numerous individuals and institutions that contributed labor, expertise, equipment, and funding. The names and logos of all contributors are explicitly listed in the film credits and its promotional poster.

"Dandhy and I, acting as directors, researchers, and cameramen, received no honorarium or salary for this film. That's our contribution," Cypri explained.

Dandhy Laksono echoed this clarification. The film is the product of a joint venture and mutual cooperation among various organizations, including the New Indonesia Cooperative, WatchdoG, Greenpeace Indonesia, Lembaga Riset Pusaka Bentala Rakyat, the Merauke Legal Aid Institute, and Papuan media outlet Jubi.

"Not all contributions were monetary. Most came in the form of time, effort, or pro bono support, such as production equipment or research findings, and no one involved was paid," Dandhy told Tempo when contacted on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

In a podcast appearance with Tribun Pekanbaru, Dandhy transparently detailed the funding streams for "Pesta Babi." He maintains that full disclosure regarding financial backing is essential to establishing a project's independence.

Within the documentary and environmental advocacy sectors, cross-organizational teamwork is standard practice, especially regarding field research, distribution, green campaigns, or indigenous rights advocacy.

To date, no evidence suggests that "Pesta Babi" is an official project backed by a foreign government or a foreign intelligence operation. There are also no credible accounts indicating that Cypri Dale ever admitted to receiving financial support from a foreign nation or external party.

Profile of Cypri Dale

Cypri Dale is an anthropologist whose work centers on development politics, indigenous sovereignty, multi-species relations, and traditional religious models. His fieldwork served as the foundational blueprint for "Pesta Babi" and facilitated engagement with local communities.

Holding a PhD from the Institute of Social Anthropology at the University of Bern, Switzerland, Cypri is currently a research fellow at CSEAS Kyoto University in Japan and the Department of Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the United States.

The investigative documentary explores the impact of large-scale food estates and industrial projects on indigenous communities in South Papua. The 96-minute feature chronicles the extensive clearing of natural forests across Merauke, Boven Digoel, Mappi, and Asmat, illustrating how national food and energy programs disrupt the lives of the Awyu, Marind, and Muyu tribes.

CONCLUSION

Tempo's verification concludes that the claim alleging Cypri Dale admitted the film was funded by a major state or foreign power is entirely false.

TEMPO FACT-CHECK TEAM

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