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Earth Defender

Earth Defender is a haunting music film by Novo Amor and Studio Birthplace, exposes the life that is lost while defending nature. Every 48 hours an Earth Defender goes missing or is murdered while protecting Earth's vanishing wilderness - our life support system. Indigenous Peoples' lands include more than one-third of the world's intact forest landscapes - they are Earth’s last line of defense.

We must protect the rights of our protectors.

  • Sil van der Woerd
    Director
    Birthplace, Moneytrees
  • Jorik Dozy
    Director
    Birthplace, Moneytrees
  • Kynan Tegar
    Director
  • Sil van der Woerd
    Writer
    Birthplace, Moneytrees
  • Jorik Dozy
    Writer
    Birthplace, Moneytrees
  • Kynan Tegar
    Writer
  • Alea Rahim
    Executive Producer
    Moneytrees, Haze-zilla
  • Sara Kong
    Producer
    Moneytrees, Haze-zilla
  • Bet
    Key Cast
    "Father"
  • Lapi
    Key Cast
    "Son"
  • Novo Amor
    Music Artist
  • Heckler Singapore
    Visual Effects
  • AMAN - Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara
    Campaign Partners
  • HAkA
    Campaign Partners
  • Global Alliance
    Campaign Partners
  • If Not Us, Then Who?
    Campaign Partners
  • Project Type:
    Music Video
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 37 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 12, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    Indonesia
  • Country of Filming:
    Indonesia
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, Sony Venice 1 Rialto
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • COP29
    Baku
    Azerbaijan
    November 12, 2024
    Premiere
Director Biography - Sil van der Woerd, Jorik Dozy, Kynan Tegar

Earth Defender is a joint director collaboration between Jorik Dozy and Sil van der Woerd from Studio Birthplace, and 19 year old Indigenous filmmaker Kynan Tegar.

Kynan is a young Dayak Iban filmmaker from Sungai Utik, West Kalimantan, where the film was shot.

Having grown up in the traditional longhouse, Kynan pursued his passion for photography and videography. Using film as a medium for change, he created several documentaries about Sungai Utik’s fight in protection of their nature, their cultures, and their story

Kynan ensured that the film was told from the community’s lens, capturing the essence of the community's connection with nature, guaranteeing authenticity.

Dutch directors Sil van der Woerd & Jorik Dozy started to co-direct in 2017. In their Music Videos and Short Films they combine exotic locations, stunning cinematography and high end visual effects to tell heartfelt stories that often touch on ecological and humanitarian issues.

The studio and their work has received over 100 award wins. Their music video Birthplace, about the the pressing issue of plastic pollution in our oceans, won Best Music Video at the prestigious CamerImage film festival (Poland) and Video Of The Year at the AIM Independent Music Awards.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Jorik Dozy & Sil van der Woerd - Co-Directors: “Indigenous and Earth Defender voices must be amplified because they lead some of the most important work on the front line of our climate and human rights crises. We wanted to support their story with our craft and skills, but as Westerners, of course we cannot speak for them. So we collaborated closely with filmmaker Kynan Tegar and the Indigenous community Sungai Utik where Kynan is from, to ensure this is their story, told their way, with their voices guiding every step.”

Kynan Tegar - Co-Director: “A collaboration between cultures like this is really important. Studio Birthplace took into account the Indigenous voices, avoiding tokenism, which is what is happening in a lot of different spaces. That didn't happen here. It was a very real collaboration where everyone was able to equally contribute and shape the film into what they believed was right.