MIRI: The Indigenous Exchange Festival (IXF) 2025 concluded on Sunday with the screening of selected short films and music videos by participants, marking the close of three days of cultural dialogue, performances, and community exchange at Alter Space Gallery & Studio, Miri.

Festival co-curator from The Tuyang Initiative, Juvita Tatan Wan, described the first edition of IXF as a true community effort.

“Everything came together in its own beautiful way. Our hope for next year is for it to be bigger and better, with even more stories to be shared and more relationships built. This platform ensures we don’t feel alone in facing complex issues, it gives us the chance to learn from each other,” she said.

Juvita added that feedback from participants, including those from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Australia, showed the potential for IXF to grow into a global platform.

“Our vision remains the same, to centre indigenous narratives and provide a safe space to come together and share,” she remarked.

Her sentiments were echoed by fellow co-curator from The Culture Capital, Koh Poh Leong, who emphasised the importance of continuing the conversations sparked during the festival.

“This is the space to have conversations so that we know what is currently happening and how we can actually move forward with purpose. My hope is that by IXF 2026, we will see an even bigger force, with more creative talents coming together,” he said.

The closing showcase provided a fitting finale, capturing stories of identity, tradition, and innovation through film and music.

Throughout its three-day run, IXF gathered 37 speakers and practitioners from Taiwan, Indonesia, Brunei, and Malaysia, alongside artisans, storytellers, and cultural custodians.

The programme included cultural dialogues, traditional food sharing, artistic showcases, and vendor exhibitions, reflecting Sarawak’s commitment to sustaining indigenous knowledge and creativity.

The closing reaffirmed IXF’s vision of becoming an annual Sarawak-grown festival with regional and global reach, positioning Miri as a hub for indigenous ideas, culture, and collaboration. -UKASnews