Kota Kinabalu: The special screenings of Sabah-made films scheduled as part of Sabah Film Appreciation (Apresiasi Filem Sabah - Afis) 2026 have been moved to City Cineplex at City Mall.
Afis 2026 organising chairperson Chester Pang said the decision was made after the organisers encountered difficulties in obtaining confirmation of their booking from Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC).
He said the five Sabah productions originally scheduled for screening at GSC Suria Sabah were The Sight of Borneo Kirin, Craze Below the Wind, Ninavau, Silence of the 177 and Mantera.
“Over the past two weeks, we have tried to contact GSC management, which is based in Kuala Lumpur, through its official communication channel that only accepts email enquiries.”“However, the response was not forthcoming, and feedback was only received at the last minute,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
“Unfortunately, GSC only contacted us on Tuesday afternoon to offer a larger cinema hall at a rental rate that was significantly higher and beyond the financial means of our association as a non-profit organisation,” he said.
Chester said the organisers appreciated the offer, but budget constraints meant they had to seek a more practical and community-friendly alternative.
“It is easier and more suitable for us to work with a Sabah-based cinema that better understands the needs and financial capacity of organisers within the State’s creative industry,” he said.
He said GSC Suria Sabah had initially been chosen to allow members of the film industry to gather at a single venue throughout Afis 2026, which will also feature exhibitions by Sabah producers and directors, sharing sessions with creative industry professionals and the fourth Golden Wind Award (Gowa) ceremony at the Hotel 7 Suria Sabah Ballroom.
Despite the change in screening venue, Chester said the organisers remained confident of strong support from audiences and industry players and hoped platforms such as Afis 2026 would continue to strengthen appreciation for Sabah-made films.
