Organizer: Asia Society New York
Type/Location: In Person / New York, NY
Description:
Join us for a screening of the Indonesian documentary film The Last Accord: War, Apocalypse and Peace in Aceh—the remarkable story of how one of Southeast Asia's longest and deadliest conflicts came to an end. The film will be followed by an exclusive Q and A with the film's executive producer Dr. Dino Patti Djalal, Founder & Chairman of Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI), and former Ambassador of Indonesia to the United States.
Sidney Jones, Adjunct Professor of International Relations at New York University and NYSEAN Executive Member, will moderate the discussion.
About the Film:
The Last Accord: War, Apocalypse, and Peace in Aceh
(Arfan Sabran, Indonesia, 1 hour 19 minutes)
The Last Accord: War, Apocalypse, and Peace in Aceh takes viewers on an extraordinary journey through one of Southeast Asia’s longest and deadliest conflicts—and to the remarkable peace that followed. For nearly three decades, the conflict between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) tore the province apart, leaving deep scars and generations warped by violence. This documentary offers an in-depth look at the tortuous path of the peace process in Aceh—often regarded as a mission impossible—featuring untold stories of behind-the-scenes tensions, and dramatic twists and turns that finally yielded the Helsinki Accord. The separatist war in Aceh was the only armed conflict in the world that was resolved in 2005. Since then, peace and progress have reigned in the province. What made peace possible after years of failed attempts to realize it? Who were the key figures who risked everything to end the bloodshed? And how has Aceh transformed since the guns fell silent? These questions are answered by ‘The Last Accord,’ a gripping tale of conflict, resilience, and the reconciliation that continues to shape the future of Aceh and stands as a testament to the power of diplomacy and the human thirst for lasting peace.
About the Speaker:
Arfan Sabran - Director, The Last Accord
Arfan is an alumnus of InDocs, born in Makassar, Indonesia. His debut “Suster Apung” won Best Film at Eagle Awards 2006. His feature documentary “The Flame” premiered at Visions du Réel, DMZ Docs, and SGIFF in 2021. “Rabiah and Mimi” won Tokyo Docs 2019 and premiered on NHK Japan. He recently directed an episode of The Last Defenders for CNA. His second feature, Ininnawa – an island calling, won Best Feature Documentary at FFI 2022 and received the Excellence Post Production Pitch at DMZ Industry 2022.
Registration:
To attend the event in person, please purchase tickets here.