Malaysia-Singapore production of 'Borneo' documentary biggest deal yet

Viewers in Malaysia and around the world can soon explore Borneo's stunning tropical landscape, rich biodiversity and cultures to uncover and understand the world's third largest island.

Touted as one of the most hotly anticipated TV series of the year, the 10-episode observatory documentary, 'Borneo', is produced through what would be the biggest factual co-production agreement between Singapore and Malaysia to date.

The series saw the collaboration between Malaysian leading TV and online content producer, Kyanite TV, and Singapore's multi-award winning production company Beach House Pictures (BHP), together with Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, Britain's UKTV, Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) and the National Film Development Corporation (Finas).

Finas director-general Datuk Kamil Othman said such collaboration could become a catalyst to push the limits or boundaries of stories about Malaysia's hidden gems so it could be shown and told to the world.

"Finas has always encouraged film makers to take advantage of the diversity in Malaysia as backdrop to their storytelling, not only about the people but also the flora and fauna," he said in his welcoming remarks at the opening of the 5th Asia Content Business Summit (ACBS), here today.

The two-day summit, hosted by the Communications and Multimedia Ministry Malaysia and Finas, is being held for the first time in Malaysia and as part of KL Converge! 2016 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).

Kyanite TV managing director Michael Lim said his production team was honoured to be collaborating with field experts from around the world on a large-scale international co-production to uncover the untold stories of Borneo's unsung heroes.

"This world-class series will foster global awareness of Borneo's pristine tropical rainforests as it uncovers stories of wildlife protection, exceptional scientific research and conservation," he said.

For BHP's managing director Jocelyn Little, being part of the production team was an absolute privilege as Borneo is one of the world's last true frontiers.

"It took a real team effort to get this off the ground, and I'm proud to make history with the biggest factual co-production agreement between Singapore and Malaysia to date," she added.

The shooting of the series began in mid April this year and is expected to be aired in mid 2017.

BHP and Kyanite TV also partnered up with various local and international organisations from government-run Sabah Parks and Sarawak Forestry Department, to international research units and wildlife rescue centres.

The 30-minute series will feature the never-before-seen images of Borneo, revealing not only the beauty of the island but also the reality of frontier living using the latest technology in film-making such as aerial photography and underwater cameras.