Slave Island

Slavery still exists on the Indonesian island of Sumba. While making a documentary about the subject, activist Jeremy Kewuan comes into contact with three enslaved children held by their ‘master’ Lucky. When one of the children disappears, Jeremy’s fight against human trafficking becomes very personal.

In colonial times, Sumba was known for its slave markets, run by royal families. Today, these slaves still exist. They are called Ata, or ‘servants’, and are owned by families from the highest caste, the Maramba. Activist Jeremy Kewuan is determined to expose and end this tragedy. He comes into contact with Lucky, a man who proudly defends his right to own slaves and displays a shocking mentality in doing so. ‘Slaves are people,’ he says, ‘but they think like animals. If a cat does something wrong, we beat it. But we still love it.’

Together with Mama Lina, who was enslaved by Lucky as a child, Jeremy takes on the fate of three children who work for Lucky: Witta, Rangga, and Kedo. All three are deeply traumatized, their bodies covered in scars from the physical abuse they endured. When 8-year-old Witta disappears after Jeremy returns her to Lucky after a trip to the city, he feels deeply guilty. He begins a quest to find Witta—and ultimately, to confront Lucky and hold her accountable. 

Activist Jeremy Kewuan  will be present at the Q&A sessions for Slave Island at the festival.