Michelle Yeoh to Star in Five Roles in Sean Baker’s New Film ‘Sandiwara,’ Premiering at Berlin Film Festival

Michelle Yeoh is once again doing the most — and then some.

The Everything Everywhere All at Once Oscar winner is starring in a new short film titled Sandiwara, set to make its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 13, 2026. The project is directed by Sean Baker, whose film Anora won Best Picture at last year’s Academy Awards, and casts Yeoh in five different roles.

Set within a bustling Malaysian night market, Sandiwara follows Yeoh as five distinct characters, each with their own story. According to the film’s synopsis, the project “moves beyond fashion and into the world of cinema and storytelling to capture the heart of Malaysian culture.” The title itself comes from a Malay word meaning “drama, theatrical performance or play,” a fitting nod to the film’s structure and themes.

The short was shot in Penang, Malaysia, and marks Baker’s return to filming entirely on an iPhone — a technique longtime fans will recognize from earlier projects like Tangerine and Snowbird, both of which helped establish his guerilla-style filmmaking reputation.

Sandiwara was produced in collaboration with the London-based fashion house Self-Portrait as part of its Residency Program, launched last year. The initiative invites creatives “from all disciplines into the brand to design using their own distinctive style” and provides access to the company’s “infrastructure, platforms, resources, teams and distribution network to spotlight and promote external creatives, offering them the freedom to dream and create.”

Per Variety, which first reported on Sandiwara back in December, the film is described as “an immersive cinematic experience.”

While the project is expected to run around 30 minutes, its official length won’t be confirmed until its Berlinale debut. Following the premiere, the screening will be accompanied by a conversation with both Baker and Yeoh.

The Berlin appearance will also mark a major career milestone for Yeoh, as Baker is set to present her with the Honorary Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement during the festival.

The Berlin International Film Festival runs from February 12 through February 22, 2026.