Two titans of the Academy Awards are joining forces in Germany next week. Oscar winners Sean Baker and Michelle Yeoh are set to premiere their upcoming short film at the prestigious Berlin Film Festival.
Baker’s latest project, titled Sandiwara, stars Yeoh and marks a return to the director’s roots: iPhone filmmaking. Baker famously shot his 2015 breakout hit Tangerine entirely on iPhones, and he is bringing that same raw, intimate aesthetic to this new collaboration.
A Fashionable Collaboration
Baker created the short film in partnership with the London-based fashion house Self-Portrait. The team describes the project as “an immersive celebration of independent cinema.”
Furthermore, Sandiwara serves as the first film from Self-Portrait’s Residency program, which officially launched in 2025. The story unfolds against the vibrant backdrop of a Malaysian night market. Yeoh showcases her acting range by starring as five different characters within the piece.
The Berlinale Premiere
The world premiere takes place on February 13. In addition to the screening, Baker will participate in a brief talk with Yeoh. They will discuss the creative process behind the film.
Subsequently, the festival will host a special screening of the Best Picture Oscar-winner Everything Everywhere All At Once. Yeoh won her historic Best Actress Oscar for this sci-fi epic.
Honoring a Legend
However, the partnership between the director and the actress extends beyond just this film. Baker will also have the distinct honor of presenting Yeoh with the Honorary Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement. This presentation occurs at The Berlin Film Festival’s opening ceremony on February 12.
Baker himself is coming off a massive award season run. Currently, the industry celebrates him for his film Anora. He recently swept the Oscars with the movie, winning for Directing, Writing, Editing, and Best Picture.
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