We acknowledge Australia’s First Nations People as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land, and pay respect to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, upon whose Country SFF are based.
We honour the storytelling and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

The Battle For Laikipia

Directed by Daphne Matziaraki, Peter Murimi
2024
Kenya, USA, Greece
94 minutes
Unclassified 15+
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A powerful film set in Kenya’s spectacular Laikipia region, home to traditional herders, wildlife conservationists, and white pastoralists; a place where drought, politics and colonial history collide.

Samburu cattle herders have lived in the region for centuries. Many white landholders were born and raised here. But, after months without rain, once amicable societal relationships are fracturing. In the past, Indigenous herders would have roamed far seeking food and water. But white landholders have erected fences across traditional grazing routes and employed armed guards to protect their property. As the drought deepens and election rhetoric fires up the community, tension escalates. Over five years, Kenyan director Peter Murimi and Greek filmmaker-journalist Daphne Matziaraki skilfully documented this complex, increasingly violent situation, with unresolved colonial legacy meeting climate change head on.

Closed Caption Devices are available for all sessions of this film, and limited seats are available for patrons requiring access for wheelchairs, low vision and hearing loop.  Please contact our ticketing team directly on 1300 733 733 or tickets@sff.org.au to complete your booking.

🍃 Shortlisted for the Sustainable Future Award.
A powerful picture, and an important one
Screen International
A tense, beautiful, heartbreaking film
Vulture

Tickets

Tue 11 Jun
6:30pm
Dendy Newtown - Cinema 3
Assisted Listening
Wheelchair
Open Captioned
Past Event Cancel
Sun 16 Jun
8:30pm
Dendy Newtown - Cinema 2
Assisted Listening
Wheelchair
Open Captioned
Past Event Cancel
Program Strand
International Documentaries, Sustainable Future Award
Year
2024
Classification
Unclassified 15+
Country
Kenya, USA, Greece
Language
In Samburu, English and Swahili with English subtitles
Director
Daphne Matziaraki, Peter Murimi
Producer
Toni Kamau, Daphne Matziaraki
Cinematographer
Daphne Matziaraki, Peter Murimi, Maya Craig
Editor
Sam Soko
Premiere
Australian Premiere
Genre
First Nations, Documentary, Africa, Environmental, Politics & Economics, Women Directors
Company Credits
Sales Agent: MetFilm Sales
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