Borneo Documentary Awards Debut At AIFFA 2025
KUCHING, Nov 14 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN International Film Festival & Awards (AIFFA) 2025 marked a new milestone in elevating Borneo’s filmmaking landscape with the introduction of the inaugural Borneo Documentary Awards.
In a statement, the AIFFA Secretariat said the event, held at the Borneo Cultures Museum, celebrated non-fiction works that highlighted the cultural, traditional and geographical richness of Borneo.
It quoted AIFFA Festival director, Livan Tajang, as saying that the new competition category aims to provide dedicated tracks for regional filmmakers to showcase compelling narratives and draw global attention to the island’s diverse heritage.
“The awards featured three main categories - Best Borneo Feature Documentary, Best East Malaysian Short Documentary and the Special Merit Award - with nominations representing Malaysia, Brunei and East Malaysian production houses,” it said.
Brunei’s Wujud, produced by New Wave Films and directed by Syafi Halim, won the Best Borneo Feature Documentary Award for its intimate portrayal of Bruneian identity, heritage and lived experiences.
The statement said The Rhythm of Our Ancestors: Hivan Kayau by Lasan Co. was named Best East Malaysian Short Documentary, while The Songs of Highlands, directed by Sarah Lois, received the Special Merit Award for its contribution to preserving indigenous languages through music.
It said a total of 31 submissions were received for the competition, with entries required to be produced between 2024 and 2025, shot in Borneo and centred on Bornean-related themes.
The judging panel comprised regional filmmakers and industry experts, including Lina Teoh, Prisca Florence Wong, Amelia Hapsari, Nadira Ilana and Candida Jau Emang.
The Secretariat said AIFFA 2025 also launched AIFFA Biz World, featuring industry sessions on technology, cultural identity and creative storytelling, followed by “Pitch Your Post with FINAS” to help emerging filmmakers develop their ideas for wider audiences.
“AIFFA 2025 continues to shine as a beacon for creativity, collaboration and cultural celebration across ASEAN, and today’s introduction of the Borneo Documentary Awards marks another milestone in honouring the stories that define the heart of this region,” it added.
-- BERNAMA
