Lights, Camera, Impact: Celebrating Sustainability at the 7th SDG Film Festival

LSPR held its 7th Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Film Festival, which provided a platform for the screening of films that address timely global issues like climate change, poverty, social justice, and access to education—all primary goals of the United Nations SDGs. The festival not only entertained but also informed and inspired, raising awareness of the unique power of film-telling to engage the audience and encourage debate around sustainable development. An annual event in LSPR Sudirman Park, the festival has evolved into a vital forum for creative engagement with serious social and environmental issues, celebrating innovative imagination as well as collaborative action towards a better world.

The festival kicked off on July 4th at the Rafael Jolongbayan Ballroom, where LSPR students showcased 19 short films and documentaries. The films dealt with key topics like social justice, gender equality, and environmental care. After the screenings, Dr. Ben Harbisher, who leads the SDG Film Festival, led a discussion on the impact of creative storytelling in raising awareness about these goals. Dr. Harbisher began by highlighting the significant influence of creative storytelling in advancing SDGs, stating, “Creative narratives engage audiences emotionally and can inspire meaningful change.” The UK team brought different styles to their presentations: Professor Jason Lee talked about drama films, Rhys Davies looked at how cinema can highlight social issues, Phil Basi showed documentaries about sustainable communities, and Alice Marshall shared how combining dance and film can boost awareness about the environment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The awards ceremony took place on July 11th at the Prof. Dr. Djajusman Auditorium & Performance Hall. Nine films received awards in categories that recognized creativity and impactful storytelling in sustainability. Dr. (H.C.) Prita Kemal Gani, MBA, MCIPR, APR, FIPR, Founder & CEO of LSPR Institute of Communication and Business, started with an inspirational address, reminding them that “the SDGs’ missions are not only given by the United Nations; they are our own missions to implement in daily life.” 

Dr. Ben Harbisher referred to the festival’s international audience: “We can genuinely say we are an international film festival with significant audience reach.” UN National Information Officer, Ms. Siska Widyawati praised filmmakers for shaping public opinion and social movements, and Mr. Andrew Trigg commented on the creative solutions presented, saying, “Your films have uncovered some problem in our modern lifestyles and presented beautifully innovative solutions.” Dr. Catherine Gough from Edith Cowan University addressed the valuable contribution that film and education can make toward achieving the SDGs and a sustainable future. 

The winners of each category for the 7th SDG Film Festival are:

• Seeds of Hope Award – Safety Net (United Kingdom)
• Mind, Body, and Spirit Award –  Secangkir Harapan (Indonesia)
• Sustainable Film Award – A Poverty Crisis: USA vs. Norway (Norway)
• Unheard Voices Award – Drops of Hope (Indonesia)
• Storytelling Award – Rising Above: The Spirit of Bung Podad (Malaysia)
• People of Determination Award – The Last of Disposal (Indonesia)
• Film Craft Award – Farm to Fork (United Kingdom)
• Critical Intervention Award – Leftovers (Indonesia)
• Best Film Award – Farm to Fork (United Kingdom)

The 7th SDG Film Festival showed how storytelling, media, and education can help push the Sustainable Development Goals forward. It brought together students, filmmakers, and experts from around the world to celebrate creativity as a way to spark social and environmental change. The event encouraged them to see the media not just as something to entertain us, but as a tool to raise awareness and get people involved. The festival motivated them to think about careers in sustainability and global responsibility. It was clear that reaching the Sustainable Development Goals will take new ideas, teamwork, and dedication from people everywhere.