Where in Penang was Sandiwara filmed? All about the 10-minute film featuring Michelle Yeoh

Seeing Southeast Asia being represented on screen just hits differently. The colours are richer, streets louder, food more alive – and when our cities and stories make it onto the global stage, there’s an unmistakable swell of pride that follows. For all the times the region has been exoticised or sidelined, it still feels significant when filmmakers choose to root their work here.

So when Oscar-winning filmmaker Sean Baker decided to shoot a short film in Penang starring Michelle Yeoh, let’s just say: we’re seated. Baker, the director behind Tangerine (2015) and the Palme d’Or-winning Anora (2024), is known for his raw, street-level storytelling and eye for places that feel lived-in and real. Pair that sensibility with Penang’s layered cultural mix – and a Malaysian icon like Yeoh – and you’ve got a project that already feels worth paying attention to.

What is Sandiwara about?

Sandiwara is a 2026 short drama written and directed by Sean Baker, starring Michelle Yeoh in not one, but five roles. In this tight 10-11 minute film, Yeoh steps into the lives of five distinct Malaysian women: The Critic, The Hawker, The Waitress, The Vlogger and The Singer. Each of them delivers a monologue that shines a light on corners of Malaysian culture that rarely make it into the global spotlight.

True to Baker’s stripped-back filmmaking style, the project was shot entirely on an iPhone over just two days in Penang. Sandiwara premiered at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on February 13, 2026, where it quickly drew international attention.

Where was Sandiwara filmed?

Like much of Baker’s work, Sandiwara leans into real, breathing spaces instead of constructed film sets. The short was filmed entirely in Penang, Malaysia, with much of the action unfolding in George Town, the island’s UNESCO-listed historic core. In the film, you see neon-lit streets and heritage shophouses. But the film’s heartbeat is unmistakably Red Garden Food Paradise, the open-air hawker centre on Lebuh Leith. Its plastic tables, smoky grills and chaotic dinner rush give the film a texture that no soundstage could replicate.

Besides Red Garden, the camera lingers on everyday Penang staples. Expect glimpses of hawker stalls along Penang Road, where plates of char kway teow are tossed over roaring flames, and iconic nasi kandar spots like Line Clear Nasi Kandar, a no-frills institution known for its rich curries and late-night crowds.

We also spotted Penang's iconic heritage shophouses, including a walking shot outside the Wan Hai Hotel, a modest 1-star budget hotel popular with backpackers. 

Where can I watch Sandiwara?

Sandiwara is available to watch in its entirety on Youtube. 

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