HARIANKALTIM.COM – Kalimantan Timur kembali bersiap menjadi tuan rumah ajang budaya internasional East Borneo International Folklore Festival (EBIFF) 2025 yang akan digelar pada 24–29 Juli mendatang.
Festival ini akan berlangsung di berbagai titik strategis, termasuk Samarinda, Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN), dan Balikpapan.
Kepastian tersebut disampaikan dalam jumpa pers yang difasilitasi Dinas Komunikasi dan Informatika (Diskominfo) Kaltim di Ruang WIEK, Rabu (11/06/2025).
Kepala Bidang Informasi, Komunikasi Publik, dan Kehumasan Diskominfo Kaltim, Irene Yuriantini, menyampaikan apresiasinya terhadap sinergi lintas instansi dalam mendukung promosi pariwisata melalui budaya.
“Kami bangga bisa memfasilitasi agenda penting ini. Ini bentuk kolaborasi nyata antardinas untuk mendukung geliat ekonomi kreatif dan sektor pariwisata Kaltim,” ujar Irene.
Sementara itu, Kepala Bidang Pengembangan Ekonomi Kreatif Dinas Pariwisata Kaltim, Awang Khalik, mengungkapkan bahwa EBIFF 2025 mengusung tema “Symphony of The World in East Borneo”, yang menggambarkan harmoni budaya global di tanah Borneo.
“Festival ini akan diikuti oleh delegasi dari lima negara, tujuh provinsi, dan sepuluh kabupaten/kota di Kaltim. Kami ingin menunjukkan bahwa Kaltim adalah ruang kolaboratif bagi seni dan tradisi dari berbagai belahan dunia,” jelas Awang.
Kelima negara yang telah mengonfirmasi keikutsertaan adalah India, Korea Selatan, Romania, Rusia, dan Polandia. Masing-masing akan mengirimkan kelompok seni rakyat tradisionalnya, termasuk Priyanki Patel Dance Academy (India) dan Rovesniki (Rusia). Jumlah delegasi bervariasi, mulai dari 12 hingga 25 orang per negara.
EBIFF 2025 akan menampilkan kirab budaya, pentas seni lintas negara, workshop tari tradisional, pameran ekonomi kreatif, kunjungan ke sekolah-sekolah, dan wisata budaya ke IKN serta Pantai Watu, Balikpapan.
Acara pembukaan dijadwalkan pada 25 Juli 2025 di Stadion Gelora Kadrie Oening, Samarinda. Ramah tamah dan pertukaran cendera mata akan berlangsung di Pendopo Odah Etam.
Kegiatan akan terpusat di tiga lokasi utama di Samarinda: Kantor Gubernur Kaltim, Stadion Kadrie Oening, dan Temindung Creative Hub. Sejumlah sekolah, seperti SMK 5, SMK 3, dan SMA 1, akan menjadi lokasi kunjungan budaya.
Kesenian lokal seperti tingkilan, madihin, dan tarsul juga dijadwalkan tampil dalam format baru yang lebih segar dan menarik.
“Harapan kami, EBIFF tak hanya menjadi festival budaya, tetapi juga ajang mempererat diplomasi budaya dan memperkuat posisi Kalimantan Timur sebagai panggung seni internasional,” tutup Awang Khalik. (ZYN/ADV/DISKOMINFO)
ENGLISH VERSION
East Kalimantan is once again gearing up to host the international cultural event, the East Borneo International Folklore Festival (EBIFF) 2025, scheduled to take place from July 24 to 29.
The festival will be held at several strategic locations, including Samarinda, the Nusantara Capital City (IKN), and Balikpapan.
The announcement was made during a press conference facilitated by the East Kalimantan Communication and Information Agency (Diskominfo) at the WIEK Room on Wednesday (June 11, 2025).
Irene Yuriantini, Head of Public Information and Communications at Diskominfo Kaltim, expressed her appreciation for the cross-agency synergy in promoting tourism through cultural initiatives.
“We’re proud to facilitate this important agenda. It represents a real example of inter-agency collaboration to support the growth of East Kalimantan’s creative economy and tourism sector,” Irene stated.
Meanwhile, Awang Khalik, Head of Creative Economy Development at the East Kalimantan Tourism Agency, revealed that EBIFF 2025 will carry the theme “Symphony of The World in East Borneo”, symbolizing global cultural harmony in Borneo.
“The festival will feature delegations from five countries, seven Indonesian provinces, and ten cities/regencies within East Kalimantan. We want to showcase East Kalimantan as a fertile ground for artistic and cultural collaboration from around the globe,” said Awang.
The five confirmed participating countries are India, South Korea, Romania, Russia, and Poland. Each will send traditional folk art troupes, including Priyanki Patel Dance Academy (India) and Rovesniki (Russia). Delegation sizes range from 12 to 25 members per country.
EBIFF 2025 will present a variety of events, including cultural parades, international art performances, traditional dance workshops, creative economy exhibitions, school visits, and cultural excursions to IKN and Watu Beach in Balikpapan.
The opening ceremony is slated for July 25, 2025, at Gelora Kadrie Oening Stadium, Samarinda. A welcoming dinner and souvenir exchange will be held at Pendopo Odah Etam.
Main activities will be centered in three key locations in Samarinda: the Governor’s Office, Gelora Kadrie Oening Stadium, and Temindung Creative Hub. Several schools, such as SMK 5, SMK 3, and SMA 1, are also designated as venues for cultural exchange visits.
Local art forms such as tingkilan, madihin, and tarsul are set to be performed in fresh, engaging formats.
“Our hope is that EBIFF will not only be a cultural celebration but also a platform for cultural diplomacy and a way to solidify East Kalimantan’s standing on the international art scene,” Awang Khalik concluded.
(ADV/RED3/e)