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2025 Theme
The 2025 theme for The NGO International Film & Knowledge Forum are rooted in the pressing issues shaping our world today. This year, we turn our focus toward Displacement, Indigenous People, and Regenerative Agriculture. These themes reflect our ongoing commitment to leveraging storytelling and knowledge-sharing to address complex global challenges. By delving into these areas, we aim to spark conversations, inspire action, and uncover transformative insights that empower individuals and communities alike. Explore how each theme shines a light on critical topics and invites us to co-create a sustainable and inclusive future.
DISPLACEMENT
Why it matters:
- Conflict-Driven Displacement: Wars and political instability remain primary causes of forced migration. Countries in regions such as the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia have seen massive refugee flows in the past decade, often overwhelming neighboring countries and creating political and social tensions globally.
- Climate-Induced Displacement: Climate change is increasingly becoming a key driver of displacement. Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and environmental degradation force people to abandon their homes, particularly in vulnerable regions like small island nations, low-lying coastal areas, and arid zones.
- Economic & Developmental Factors: Displacement is also linked to inequality and poor development. Urban migration due to lack of jobs, access to resources, and opportunities often leads to sprawling informal settlements in cities, creating new vulnerabilities.
This theme will highlight both the challenges and resilience of displaced communities, explore policy gaps, and advocate for ethical solutions to safeguard the rights and dignity of displaced populations.
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
Indigenous peoples represent some of the most resilient and culturally rich communities globally, often holding ancestral knowledge about sustainable living and environmental stewardship. However, they continue to face systemic marginalization, land dispossession, and threats to their cultural heritage. The 2025 theme, “Indigenous People,” focuses on honoring and amplifying the voices of these communities while addressing the injustices they face.
Why it matters:
- Cultural and Linguistic Diversity: Indigenous communities embody centuries of cultural wisdom, storytelling, and traditions, often tied to their lands. Preserving this diversity is essential for global cultural heritage.
- Environmental Guardianship: Indigenous people manage about 22% of the Earth’s surface and are responsible for protecting 80% of the planet’s biodiversity. Their traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is an invaluable asset in combating climate change and biodiversity loss.
- Human Rights & Land Sovereignty: Despite their critical role in global sustainability, indigenous peoples face challenges including forced evictions, violations of land rights, and systemic exclusion from political systems. For example, land-grabbing practices for commercial development or mining projects often displace indigenous communities.
This theme will highlight both the challenges and resilience of displaced communities, explore policy gaps, and advocate for ethical solutions to safeguard the rights and dignity of displaced populations.
REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE
Regenerative agriculture goes beyond sustainable farming; it is a holistic approach that restores soil health, enhances biodiversity, and builds resilient ecosystems while addressing global food security challenges. This theme will highlight how regenerative practices not only tackle climate change but also ensure healthier communities and livelihoods.
Why it matters:
- Combating Soil Degradation: Industrial farming has led to severe soil erosion and depletion, threatening global food supplies. Regenerative practices such as no-till farming, cover cropping, and agroforestry rebuild soil health, improve water retention, and increase agricultural yields.
- Addressing Climate Change: Regenerative agriculture is a critical solution to climate change. Practices like carbon sequestration through healthy soils and tree planting help reduce greenhouse gas levels, making it a natural climate mitigation strategy.
- Supporting Farmers and Rural Economies: Beyond environmental benefits, regenerative agriculture promotes economic stability by reducing farmers’ dependence on costly synthetic inputs like fertilizers and pesticides.
- Preserving Biodiversity: By embracing polyculture and natural ecosystem management, regenerative agriculture fosters biodiversity and creates habitats for pollinators and other critical species.
This theme will explore how regenerative agriculture practices can be scaled globally to address the interconnected crises of food insecurity, environmental degradation, and climate change. It will also examine the challenges and opportunities for farmers, policymakers, and local communities in adopting these practices.