The Gula Anau Story

Synopsis

Led by Brunei Darussalam-based Joshua Belayan — the country’s only National Geographic Explorer — The Gula Anau Story (2026) is the opening episode of the Ekosistem Rasa: Borneo-Brunei’s Culinary Landscape documentary series about endemic food systems to Borneo. It is also a standalone documentary film exploring the making, meaning, and legacy of Brunei’s traditional palm sugar called Gula Anau.

Produced in partnership by New Wave Films and Kitani Kreatif, the film journeys across locations in Brunei Darussalam and Limbang (Sarawak, Malaysia) to document not only the craft of tapping Nipah palm sap and producing Gula Anau, but also the people, culture and ecosystems anchored in the mangrove landscapes.

Through this cross-border Borneo perspective, the film project illuminates how food, land and livelihoods interplay; and how a single ingredient carries deep heritage while facing ecological and economic pressures.

Trailer