IBU:
MENDING THE NET
This film tells the story of a small fishing village in Northern Bali fighting to restore the reef that once sustained them.
By watching the film, you're supporting the fishermen and independent filmmaking.
About IBU
A Village at a Turning Point
For generations, the fishermen of this small coastal village depended on the reef for their livelihood. But years of destructive fishing practices and environmental pressure had pushed the ecosystem to the brink.
Fish catches declined. The reef that once fed the village was disappearing.
Instead of giving up, the community chose a different path.
Together they began restoring the reef, protecting their waters, and rebuilding the ecosystem that sustains them.
IBU is the story of that transformation.
Why This Film Matters
Across the globe, small fishing communities face the same challenge. When coral reefs collapse, livelihoods disappear with them.
But stories like this show that recovery is possible.
When local communities take ownership of conservation, reefs can recover, fish return, and the balance between people and the ocean can be restored.
This film exists to document that hope.
Behind the Scenes of IBU
IBU was made by two people. Luca directed and shot the film, and Julia produced and assisted on camera. No crew, no lighting setup, no schedule beyond the tides. We first heard about Desa Bukti from our friend Rolf at Coral Reef Care, who told us a small village in the north of Bali had started protecting its own reef. We drove up with no expectations and stayed for ten days.
Most of those days had nothing to do with filming. The fishermen had never sat for an interview, and they were wary of two strangers with cameras. So we put the cameras down. We ate with them, listened, and let Tama from Eco Dive Bondalem translate the long conversations. Komang opened every door, introducing us to the other fishermen and vouching for us, and Putu, who runs the Bukti fishing club, made the rest possible.
Trust arrived at a different moment for each of them. For one, it came underwater, the first time he led us through the protected area himself and showed us, proudly, what the village has been protecting. For others it took a few more casual dinners at the local warung to understand that we were there out of real admiration for the work and not just to point a lens at it.
In the neighboring village we met Nyoman, who restores coral reefs with a two-person team and a level of care that truly amazed us. We are still friends with all of them. Nyoman and Tama visit us, we dive together, and we tell anyone who will listen about what these fishermen built.
