Non-Fiction Competition
Sound Guardians
Online
As Jakarta sinks and sea levels rise, Indonesia is moving its capital to Borneo, on the traditional land of the indigenous Balik people. Abidin, a Balik elder, is documenting his forest’s soundscape with the help of scientists to preserve ancestral knowledge – before it’s too late.
- Director
- Leah Varjacques
- Time
- 0:18:36
- Country
- United States
- Genre
- Non-Fiction
- Year
- 2025
- Cast
- Abidin, Wendy Erb
Director
Leah Varjacques
Leah is a two-time Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker based in Colorado and has been making short documentaries for over a decade. Her work has appeared on FX/Hulu, The New York Times, VICE News, The Atlantic, and more. A French native, she speaks four languages and covered stories around the world.
Cast
Abidin, Wendy Erb
Screening
Screening Venue
| Venue | Schedule | Ticket Reservation |
|---|---|---|
| WITH HARAJUKU HALL | 2026.06.08 [Mon] 13:00-14:50 |
Online Screening
| Online | schedule | Online Screening |
|---|---|---|
| Online Screening | 2026.06.11 [Thu] - 2026.06.30 [Tue] |
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Recommended comments
This short documentary is a thought-provoking film that celebrates the biodiversity and sonic richness of Borneo through cinematic visuals of wildlife and the rainforest. Its strength is the sound design, which embodies the central tension of the story by juxtaposing the sounds of nature with the sounds of construction. Ultimately, the film explores critical conundrums facing frontline communities, and inspires audiences to protect their cherished ecosystems through deep listening.