The Cinematic Exploration of Indonesian Sulfur Mining

On May 6, 2014, Meridian and ITVS hosted a screening of Where Heaven Meets Hell as part of the Global Perspectives Film Series. Where Heaven Meets Hell follows the lives of three of the nearly 500 sulfur miners working in Kawah Ijen, a spectacular active volcano in Indonesia. This intimate portrait chronicles the miners’ attempts to escape the endemic poverty and lack of education that haunts their community.

We were joined by Samuel Tumiwa, Deputy Regional Director at the Asian Development Bank, and filmmaker Sasha Friedlander, Director, Producer, Cinematographer, and Editor of Where Heaven Meets Hell, who joined remotely via Adobe Connect. Kalifi Ferretti-Gallon with the Center for Global Development’s Forest and Climate Team moderated the discussion and guided audience Q&A, which covers topics ranging from the implementation of conditional cash transfers, microfinance opportunities, to access to education and worker safety for the miners.