FABW documentary "YUMI" supports ICJ opinion on climate protection

Graduation film is available in the ARD Media library

It was seen and heard on all channels and in all news programmes: On Wednesday, July 23, 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague defined for the first time what states must do under international law to protect the climate. In an advisory opinion, the ICJ describes a “clean, healthy and sustainable environment” as a human right and concludes that climate change poses a “universal and serious threat” to the international community. This gives rise to an obligation under international law for states to take measures to curb its progression. The ICJ also reaffirmed the binding nature of the 1.5-degree target in the fight against global warming. Damaged countries could even be entitled to reparations.

The fact that the UN court reached this historic verdict at all is thanks to the courageous efforts of three young law students from the University of the South Pacific. In 2019, Solomon Yeo, Vishal Prasad, and Romabeth Siri set out to bring the fight against climate change to the global stage.

They were accompanied on their journey from humble beginnings in a university room in the Pacific Islands to negotiations with ministers, ambassadors, and commissioners by a team from Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. This long-term observation resulted in the documentary graduate film YUMI - THE WHOLE WORLD. The name of the film, YUMI, means “we” in Bislama, the national language of Vanuatu, and symbolises the collective struggle of the Pacific states against the climate crisis.

YUMI was supposed be broadcast not until autumn as part of the new season of “Junger Dokumentarfilm” (Young Documentary Film). However, on the occasion of the ICJ opinion, SWR is making it available now in the ARD media library (external link). Yesterday's reporting on the ICJ opinion on ARD was also mostly accompanied by excerpts from YUMI.

Filmakademie managing director Dr. Andreas Bareiß: “We are delighted with the success of YUMI. It once again highlights the importance of excellent and political film and media production in bringing relevant issues to the attention of a wide audience. FABW will always focus on this.”

YUMI was shown in special screenings in 2024 before the International Court of Justice in The Hague and the UN General Assembly in New York. The Goethe-Institut and German Films are supporting YUMI on its current South Pacific tour through Vanuatu, Fiji, and New Zealand. Special screenings are being held in cooperation with the German embassies in Suva and Wellington.

YUMI won the Audience Award for Documentary Film at the 47th Max Ophuels Prize in Saarbrücken in January 2025. Director Felix Golenko was nominated for the German Human Rights Film Award 2024 for his directing work. And producer Maximilian Köhler was delighted to receive a nomination for the No Fear Award at the First Steps Awards 2024.

YUMI – THE WHOLE WORLD
Director: Felix Golenko
Production: Mark Szilágyi
Producer: Maximilian Köhler
Cinematography: Jan Robin Weiland*
Music: Sebastian Fillenberg
Editing: Christoph Hans, Samuel Albert, Hauke von Stietencron
Motion Design: Chantale Eglin
Sound post-production/sound design: Vincent Egerter
Sound design: Elias Gürtler
Sound mixing: Bjarne Taurnier
Dialogue editors: Jan-Eric Heitland, Samuel Krupke
Synchronous sound engineer: Maximilian Schieder
Foley artist: Marc Lehnert
Editing (SWR): Mirjam Dolderer and Marcus Vetter

YUMI – THE WHOLE WORLD is a production by MSZ - Production & Consulting (Márk Szilágyi) and Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, in co-production with SWR - Junger Dokumentarfilm.

Watch the trailer (external link)

*Jan Robin Weiland is a scholarship holder of the foundation Baden-Württemberg Stiftung and participated in an international partner programme as part of his studies at FABW.

Photo: FABW - Solomon Yeo and Felix Golenko in front of the ICJ in The Hague.