Director sees Sabah potential as a filmmaking centre

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah has the potential to be a filmmaking hub. The vote of confidence comes from renowned film director Ahmad Idham who said Sabah is like a studio of its own, with its splendid natural beauty and environment.

"I studied here for five years, and so I know how beautiful this State is. And because of its beauty, Sabah has the potential of becoming a filmmaking hub," he said.

Ahmad said this during a press conference to introduce his latest film titled "Gerimis Mengundang", here, Wednesday

Also present was Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Datuk Masidi Manjun.

"We encourage more filmmakers to come here. However, as stated the biggest hindrance faced by them (film-makers) is the lack of logistics, whereby film makers will need a large amount of filming equipment flown in from outside, which cost a lot," said Masidi.

"There is no better location than Sabah, in fact according to the Time magazine, Sabah is among the top five countries with the most beautiful sunsets in the world," he said.

He added that making Sabah a filmmaking hub is something that might be possible in future.

"But eventually we have to look into the commercial consideration which includes supply and demand issues. It makes sense with all the beauty that we have here in Malaysia, especially in Sabah," he said.

The film "Gerimis Mengundang" is produced by Excellence Pictures Sdn Bhd and E-rama Creatives Sdn Bhd.

Filming began on June 27 this year and about 90 per cent of the film is currently being shot in Sabah in various locations such as Likas Bay, Tuaran Hospital, Kundasang, Manukan Island and the Filipino market.

Among local talents featured are Felix Agus and Brenda, with main characters Olivia Jensen Lubis, Indonesian teenage pop sensation and new Malaysian actor Kamal Adil.

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