Sabah’s Indigenous Language Film Sinakagon Set to Debut on Netflix

A new indigenous language film from Sabah, Malaysia, called Sinakagon is set to debut on Netflix next month, marking a significant milestone for the state’s emerging film industry. Directed by Timothy Stephen and shot entirely in the Dusun dialect, spoken by fewer than 800,000 people, the film is based on the legend of Huminodun, a revered goddess in Sabah’s Kadazandusun ethnic group.

This is a big deal for Sabah, as it aims to expand its appeal beyond just being a tourist destination. Sinakagon is the first film from Sabah to land a spot on the popular streaming platform, Netflix. Stephen, the director behind the film, shared his excitement about this achievement, saying, “When Netflix approved our film, we were just over the moon. We were so surprised that we managed to meet the high quality and technical standards, because we shot on such a small budget with gear that is not high end.”

Despite working with a modest budget of just 200,000 ringgit (US$53,480) and a crew of 30, Sinakagon, which translates to “progeny” in Dusun, was able to make waves in the film industry. The film was even a finalist at the Prisma Rome Independent Film Awards and ranked in the top five out of 100 films at the Barcelona Indie Filmmakers Fest. Additionally, Stephen himself won an award for best first-time director for a feature film in Milan.

Sinakagon promises to bring a unique story and cultural perspective to audiences on Netflix next month. Stay tuned for a cinematic experience that celebrates Sabah’s indigenous language and folklore.