Sandiwara

Berlinale SANDIWARA (2026)

The opening ceremony at this year’s Berlinale Film Festival honoured Academy Award–winning actress Michelle Yeoh with the Honorary Golden Bear, a well-deserved lifetime achievement award recognizing her significant contribution to the world of cinema.

What better way to accept that award than by showcasing exactly why you deserve it in the first place?

At the Honorary Golden Bear presentation, Academy Award–winning writer-director Sean Baker (Anora—2024) introduced the world premiere of his short film SANDIWARA, starring none other than the woman of the hour herself: Michelle Yeoh.

Yeoh takes on all five lead roles in the film, in what can only be described as a cinematic love letter to her home country of Malaysia. She is a food vlogger in one moment, a sharp-tongued food critic in the next. She also becomes a hawker-cook, a young woman waiting tables, and, finally, the evening’s main musical attraction. Each character feels distinct in personality, yet deeply connected through culture.

Again, this night was about Michelle Yeoh, and she owned it, front and centre, fully demonstrating her extraordinary range as a performer.

SANDIWARA is a colourful tribute to Malaysia, while effortlessly delivering a masterclass in filmmaking.

This isn’t just a testament to Michelle Yeoh’s ability to immerse herself in five unique, interconnected characters; it’s also an example of Sean Baker’s incredible skill as a filmmaker. By shooting the short entirely on an iPhone, Baker demonstrates his own technical ingenuity, seamlessly merging all five of Yeoh's performances into a single harmonious story. 

The story is an immersive celebration of womanhood, cultural identity, culinary heritage, and the spirit of independent cinema, all set against the city streets of Penang. I think many people will rightfully draw parallels between this and Everything Everywhere All at Once, as both echo the idea that different versions of ourselves exist, and that chance and circumstance determine the paths we take.

This was brought together by the Self Residency programme, which its founder and creative director, Han Chong, describes as “born out of the ambition to bring unique creative visions to life, of promoting artistic collaboration over competition, and of finding ways to push the boundaries of diverse crafts.” As the first film produced under the initiative, they’re off to a fantastic start.

In iconic fashion, Michelle Yeoh didn’t simply attend the Honorary Golden Bear presentation, with SANDIWARA, she added another feather to her cap, proving once again the remarkable depth and versatility of her craft.

Enjoy! 

8.7/10 🍿 🎥

Runtime: 11mins

Where: World Premiere at the Berlinale Film Festival | Now Streaming on YouTube

The Richmond Reviewer Sandiwara Review - February 23rd, 2026.

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