The Borneo Cultures Museum was the setting for the first AIFFA 2025 Borneo Documentary Awards yesterday, where the Brunei documentary Wujud clinched the prestigious Borneo Feature Documentary award.
Held in conjunction with the 7th ASEAN Film Festival and Awards, the event received 31 entries from across Borneo, showcasing documentaries on diverse subjects from culture to technology.
The chairperson of the Borneo Documentary Awards, Rashid Salleh said “ The awards aim to celebrate the talent of Borneo filmmakers, encourage the creation of impactful documentaries about the region, and ultimately promote Borneo’s stories, people, and culture through documentary cinema”.
To be eligible for submission, documentaries must meet the following criteria:
● The production must have been shot and produced in Borneo.
● The subject matter must be related to Borneo.
● The documentary must have been produced between 2024 and 2025.
In other categories, Rhythm of Our Ancestors : Hivan Kayau, a documentary exploring the endangered culture of the Kayan ethnic group, won the Best East Malaysian Short Documentary. Additionally, The Songs of Highlands, directed by Sarah Lois, was honored with the Special Merit Award.
The esteemed panel of jurors for the awards included: Lina Teoh (experienced documentary filmmaker), Amelia Hapsari (Indonesian documentary filmmaker and Co-creator of the Docs by the Sea initiative), Prisca Wong (Sarawakian documentary producer), Nadira Ilana (filmmaker and film programmer), and Candida Jau Emang (senior lecturer in Cinematography at UNIMAS).
Winner Of East Malaysia Short Documentary Awards The Rhythm Of Our Ancestors : Hivan Kayau
Production House : Lasan Co.
Director and Producer : Genevieves Sulan
Director Bio : Genevives Sulan is a cultural storyteller passionate about preserving Indigenous heritage, particularly that of the Orang Ulu people of Sarawak. She is the Director and Producer at Lasan Co, a creative initiative dedicated to bringing untold stories of Orang Ulu culture to a wider audience.
Synopsis :
Set in the heart of Borneo, this documentary uncovers the transformation of the Hivan Kayau Dance, once a warrior’s celebration of victory, now a vibrant symbol of cultural pride. Through interviews with dancers, musicians, and cultural experts, viewers follow the Kayan community’s journey from preparation to performance. Blending history, music, and emotion, the film captures how this ancient tradition continues to unite generations and inspire the young to preserve their heritage.
Winner Of Borneo Feature Documentary Awards Wujud By New Wave Films
Production House : New Wave Films (Brunei)
Director : Syafi Halim
Producer : Rui Oliveira Lopes
Director Bio : Syafi Halim is a Bruneian filmmaker and producer, best known as the founder of New Wave Films. Since starting his creative journey in 2018, Syafi has directed and produced a wide range of documentaries, series, and commercials that highlight Brunei’s culture and people. As co-director and producer of Wujud (2025), he brings a distinctly local perspective, blending cinematic storytelling with authenticity and emotional depth. Under his leadership, New Wave Films has grown into one of Brunei’s leading production
companies, collaborating with brands such as RTB, National Geographic, and UBD, and earning multiple awards for creative excellence.
Synopsis :
“WUJUD” is an intimate documentary exploring the profound connection of Bruneian people with Islam, the Monarchy and their heritage. In a private and conservative country, the film delves into personal stories and belief systems, revealing a rare glimpse into its people. It also highlights cultural nuances, nature appreciation and discussing Bruneian identity. Through heartfelt interviews, ‘WUJUD’ shares the joys, struggles, and aspirations of the Bruneian people.
Winner Of Special Merit Award Song Of The Highlands
Production : Outcast
Producer : Ng Kwok Yong
Director : Sarah Lois
Director Bio :
Sarah Lois is an award-winning Kelabit film director and publisher from Malaysia whose work shines a light on indigenous and women’s stories, weaving themes of heritage, identity and legacy. Recognised as Southeast Asia’s Top 5 Women in Media (2024), Sarah continues to inspire others to honour their roots through art.
Synopsis : This short documentary follows musician Alena Murang as she reclaims and
revitalizes her endangered indigenous language using the power of song. Through voices of elders, the memory of tradition, and the help of technology, the film is a powerful act of cultural preservation, where music becomes both archive and lifeline, breathing life into ancestral voices on the brink of extinction.
