AIFFA Celebrates Borneo Stories with Inaugural Documentary Awards

The ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards (AIFFA) continued celebrating Southeast Asian storytelling today with the Borneo Documentaries Screening and Awards held at the Borneo Cultural Museum.

This year marks a milestone with the launch of the Borneo Documentary Award, a new category created to honour nonfiction films rooted in Borneo and East Malaysia.

Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Snowdan Lawan, who officiated the event, expressed strong support for the initiative.

“Sarawak has many natural and beautiful places. Maybe in the future, you might think of filming here… We have many locations where you can explore different knowledge about films,” he said.

He also highlighted the award’s potential to boost regional documentary filmmaking, suggesting that future editions could invite documentary film buyers and broadcasters.

🏆 This year's awards featured three categories:
• Best Borneo Feature Documentary
• Best East Malaysian Documentary
• Borneo Documentary Special Merit Award

After the awards, AIFFA launched its Biz World programme, featuring insights from regional industry leaders.
Anthony Buncio spoke about empowering emerging storytellers through cultural heritage and technology, while Carlo Obispo shared how local stories can rise onto the global stage.

✨ Award Highlights
• Best Borneo Feature Documentary: Wujud (Brunei) by Syafi Halim — an intimate look at Bruneians’ connection to Islam, the monarchy, and cultural identity.
• Best East Malaysian Short Documentary: Rhythm of Our Ancestors Hivan Kayau by Genevieves Sulan — tracing the Kayan community’s iconic dance from warrior roots to cultural pride.
• Special Merit Award: The Songs of Highlands by Sarah Lois — following musician Alena Murang as she preserves her endangered indigenous language through music.

AIFFA continues to inspire ASEAN filmmakers to innovate while staying deeply connected to their culture, roots, and identity. 🌏🎥✨