Malaysian Short Film On Kelabit People Selected For Prestigious International Festival

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What happens when a language is on the brink of disappearing? For filmmaker Sarah Lois Dorai, the answer is to capture it in song before silence takes over.

Songs of the Highlands is Sarah Lois Dorai's latest short documentary, spotlighting the endangered Kelabit language of Bario, Sarawak.

Once passed down entirely through song and storytelling, the voices of the Kelabit elders are now fading.

But through film, Sarah hopes to keep them alive.

Commissioned by Sound of Life (a storytelling platform created by international audio innovators KEF), the film was one of three global projects about disappearing sounds.

For Sarah, who is Kelabit herself, it was more than just a commission. It was a calling.

"I always carry with me a story my late aunt Lucy Bulan once told. She was among the first generation of Kelabits to pursue higher education. My grandparents told her, 'Go and get your education. Then come back to Bario, and lift up your own people.' I hold those words close to my heart.

"My approach to this film wasn't simply to meet the requirements of a job. Every decision made in its storytelling was in service of this mandate — to uplift my people," Sarah told SAYS.

This October, Songs of the Highlands will premiere at Hawai'i International Film Festival (HIFF45), having been selected to compete for Best Short Film

For Sarah, the recognition was more than an honour. It was also a quiet rebuttal to those who once questioned whether Sarawak documentaries could ever find an international audience.

"I recently pitched a documentary series with similar themes to a local TV station, where I was questioned about the viability of documentaries from Sarawak, and whether they could reach an audience beyond Malaysia. The panel wasn't convinced, and the pitch was unsuccessful.

"However, the inclusion of our work in festivals of this calibre proves otherwise, and I remain hopeful for the future," she added.

Getting into Bario to produce the film was no easy feat. With only 14-seater Twin Otter planes making the trip, the crew had to split their arrivals.

One flight carrying key team members, including musician and singer Alena Murang, couldn't even land due to bad weather, forcing Sarah to completely rework the shooting schedule on the spot.

"Hiccups are inevitable. But the team was fantastic, and we pushed through because we knew what we were doing was important," she added.

Sarah was intentional not just with the story but with the storytellers

She specifically sought out a female director of photography, Sandra Cheah, to frame the film's visual soul.

"Women bring an intuitive creativity and sensitivity. Sandra's eye was key to the film looking as beautiful as it does," she said.

For Sarah, representation isn't just about who's in front of the camera. It's also about who gets to hold it.

One evening during filming, elders gathered in Bario to sing old Kelabit songs and share stories.

Watching from behind the monitor, Sarah felt herself transported to a time when this wasn't performance, but daily life.

"I realised how far removed our generation is from that reality. Through film, we can't live it, but we can remember. And remembering is powerful," she added.

The documentary has already won Best Documentary at the Kalimantan International Indigenous Film Festival earlier this year. But Sarah isn't slowing down.

Her dream project is a six-part global documentary series spotlighting cultural revivalists from indigenous Austronesian communities, a way to connect shared heritage across borders.

Closer to home, she also hopes to expand untold Kelabit songs and stories into a mini exhibition, if resources allow.

After screenings in Kuching, Miri, and Palangkaraya, Songs of the Highlands will make its Kuala Lumpur premiere at the SeaShorts Film Festival from 16 to 19 October 2025