Sean Baker's 'Sandiwara' with Michelle Yeoh to Premiere at Berlin Film Fest

In 'Sandiwara,' the 'Anora' director returns to his iPhone-shooting roots for what a press release describes as an "immersive cinematic experience." It marks the first film from Self-Portrait's Residency program, which launched last year to invite creatives "from all disciplines into the brand to design using their own distinctive style," the release states, per the outlet.

The initiative provides Self-Portrait's "infrastructure, platforms, resources, teams and distribution network to spotlight and promote external creatives, offering them the freedom to dream and create."

Starring Yeoh as five different characters, 'Sandiwara' is set in a Malaysian night market and "moves beyond fashion and into the world of cinema and storytelling to capture the heart of Malaysian culture," according to its synopsis.

"Each character tells their own unique story and represents a facet of Malaysian culture rarely explored." The film gets its title from the Malay word for "drama, theatrical performance or play" and was shot in Penang.

The Berlin Film Festival will host a special screening of "Sandiwara" followed by a conversation between the director and actor.

Baker will also be on hand at the Berlinale's opening ceremony on February 12 to present Yeoh with this year's Honorary Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement. The festival will run from February 12 to 22.

The Berlin International Film Festival has also announced a fresh set of titles for its upcoming edition, adding star power and genre variety to the Berlinale 2026 lineup.

The newly revealed lineup includes films spanning horror, science fiction, drama and music-focused narratives. Among the highlights in the Berlinale Specials section are the international premiere of The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, directed by Noah Segan and starring John Turturro and Steve Buscemi.

The section will also feature European premieres, including The Weight, directed by Padraic McKinley and starring Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe, and Gore Verbinski's sci-fi comedy Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die, starring Sam Rockwell, Juno Temple, and Zazie Beetz, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

- ANI