Paradise Endures
Paradise Through a New Lens.
Bali: Paradise Endures is a documentary film exploring how an island long imagined as paradise has been shaped over decades by tourism, storytelling, and outside influence.
Told through the voices of those who first introduced Bali to the Australian imagination, alongside those who live its reality today, the film looks beyond the surface to understand how the island has evolved, and what has been gained, lost, and transformed along the way.
At its core, Bali: Paradise Endures presents Bali not merely as a place, but as a character - one shaped by centuries of encounters between natives and outsiders.
To wider audiences, Bali is often portrayed in media through a fixed lens, whether focused on spirituality, surf culture, periods of tragedy, each capturing only a fragment of a much larger story. This film takes a holistic approach, not attempting to recount the island’s entire history, but examining how successive influences have shaped the island over time.
From the early surf filmmakers who first revealed the island to the world, to the rapid expansion of tourism and the growing awareness of its impacts, the film traces the shifting ways Bali has been seen, experienced, and understood.
Rather than following a single narrative, the documentary explores the tension between tradition and change, asking how “paradise” continues to endure amid constant transformation.
The Filmmakers
Bali: Paradise Endures is produced by Zahn Conrick and directed by Cooper Upcroft, working through SepiaUltra on Australia’s Central Coast.
Born in Denpasar and raised between Indonesia and Australia, Conrick brings a deeply personal connection to the story, shaped by a life lived between two cultures that have long informed and influenced each other’s understanding of Bali.
The project is underpinned by a shared commitment to vérité and observational storytelling, exploring the forces that have shaped the island over time, as told by those who have lived it.
“Paradise Endures is about Zahn’s return home to Bali, Indonesia. But at a deeper level, it is a story about a place within his heart, and within so many others. A place defined by love, care, and sincerity. A place shaped by culture, tradition, and history.
She has long been open to the world, sharing herself with those who arrived on her shores across generations. An openness that now feels tested in new and contemporary ways. What was once an exchange has become an imbalance. As the tourism industry accelerates, she is no longer simply being shared, but reshaped. Her rhythms are strained, her balance unsettled, and yet her spirit remains enduring in the quiet rituals of daily life, in the continuity of tradition, and in the care that binds her people to one another and to her.”
Cooper Upcroft
Our Journey So Far
The project began with a road trip along Australia’s East Coast, where we met with and filmed interviews featuring Phil Jarratt, Dick Hoole and Albert Falzon—figures who played a pivotal role in shaping how Bali was first seen by Australian audiences. These conversations have helped ground the film in its historical context, offering insight into the early points of influence that continue to shape the island today. As production continues in Bali, the film expands to include contemporary voices and perspectives, building a more nuanced understanding of how the island has evolved over time.
A glimpse into this journey can be seen in the video above.
A Story Not Yet Told Through Film
To the wider audience, Bali is often understood through fixed narratives such as paradise, escape or tragedy, yet her reality is far more layered, shaped by centuries of cultural exchange, adaptation and necessary resilience. As tourism continues to redefine the island, questions of cultural continuity, environmental sustainability and identity have become increasingly urgent, with the relationship between local traditions and global influence constantly negotiated, revealing both tensions and moments of coexistence. Bali: Paradise Endures seeks to move beyond these familiar representations, offering a more considered and historically grounded perspective that examines the enduring impacts of tourism, both constructive and extractive, through the voices and lived experiences of those most closely connected to the island. By approaching Bali in this way, the film aims to foster a deeper understanding of her complexities and to encourage a more thoughtful and reciprocal engagement with the island.
Get Involved
We are currently in production and open to connecting with individuals, organisations and partners who align with the themes of the film.
Whether through collaboration, interviews, accommodation or support, we’re always open to conversations that can help shape and strengthen the project.
For enquiries, please submit via the form or at the email:
Sepiaultra@Gmail.com