Kota Kinabalu: Four Sabah-made productions comprising three feature films and one short film are scheduled to hit the screens this October.
The releases are timed to secure market share ahead of the anticipated influx of big-budget movies arriving in cinemas across November and December.
The slate begins with the premiere of Marc Abas’s Bobohizan Next Generation on Oct 3, followed by Jade Morris’s Mr Finance on Oct 8.
Shera and Zura Anwar’s short film Bas Malam will hold its gala night on Oct 17, before the run concludes with Marlin Malalin’s Giring on Oct 29.
The four titles reflect diverse financing models, with two receiving funding from the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) and Mr Finance relying on self-funding.
Bas Malam, which features national-profile actors, secured private investment through the 10Star FC development programme.
Sabah Film and Visual Association (Safva) president Chester Pang described the developments as encouraging and an incentive for local filmmakers to keep producing work.
He made the remarks following a visit to the UMS set of Beri Aku Waktu, the debut production by Assoc. Prof. Dr Zairul Anwar Md Dawam, Dean of the university’s Academy of Arts and Creative Technology (Astif).
"Let us go to the cinemas to watch Sabah films, especially Mr Finance and Giring, which will be screened in more than 35 cinemas nationwide," Pang said, noting that ticket purchases directly support local industry players.
Pang, who also chairs the Federation of Sabah Creative Associations, noted that the industry continues to move forward despite challenges in funding, market reach, and screening opportunities.
He added that this momentum is expected to be bolstered by the Creative Economy portfolio established on Dec 1, 2025, under the Sabah Youth Development, Sports Progress and Creative Economy Ministry.
"Once the structure, policy, and direction are finalised, they will provide an essential foundation to build a more organised creative ecosystem, open opportunities for young talent, create jobs, and bring Sabah stories to the national and international stage," he said.
