Documentary · Kuching, Sarawak
Documentaries about the people who make Sarawak.
Some stories can't be scripted. A weaver finishing a pua kumbu after months at the loom. Six artists turning one wall into a vision for their city. Veterans gathering for what may be the last time. We go where these stories live, earn people's trust, and let them speak for themselves.
Filmco has made documentaries across Sarawak since 2013, for PETRONAS, Tanoti, Mercure and community organisations. Our work has been recognised internationally, including as a Musicbed Challenge documentary finalist.
What we make
Heritage & craft documentaries
Weaving, carving, music and food: the living culture of Sarawak, filmed with care and with the makers' consent.
Brand-funded documentaries
CSR and sustainability stories that show your organisation's impact through the people it touched, not through slogans.
Short documentary series
A run of short films that release over weeks, built for YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
Event & legacy documentaries
Anniversaries, commemorations and once-in-a-lifetime gatherings, kept for the people who were there and the ones who weren't.
Selected films
Documentary by Filmco.
How we work
From first call to final cut.
- 1
Discover
We learn your audience, your goal and what success looks like.
- 2
Story
We find the human story, then write the treatment and plan the shoot.
- 3
Shoot
A lean, experienced crew on location anywhere in Sarawak and beyond.
- 4
Deliver
The hero film plus cut-downs, vertical reels and subtitles, ready for every channel.
Questions
How long does a documentary take to make?
It depends on the story. A short documentary can be filmed in a few days. Others follow people over weeks or months, like Soul of Sarawak, which travelled 4,229 km. We'll give you a realistic schedule after the first conversation.
Can you film in remote parts of Sarawak?
Yes. We regularly film in longhouses, rivers and rural communities across Sarawak, and we know the protocol for visiting them. Our sister company, Borneo Film Equipment, means we're never short of gear on location.
Do you work in Bahasa Sarawak and local languages?
Yes. We're from here, and we film people in the language they're most comfortable in, then subtitle for your audience.
Who owns the rights to the documentary?
It depends on the project, and we agree it up front. Where we can, we like to co-own the rights. When a story is partly ours, we commit to it more deeply: we keep telling it, enter it in festivals, and look after it long after the final cut. If you need to own the film outright, we can do that too.
Start a project
Have a story to tell?
Tell us a little about it. Sam replies personally within 3 working days.