STB wins Black Dolphin Trophy at Cannes awards
KUCHING, 29 September 2026: The Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) has won a Black Dolphin Trophy at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards 2026 for its production “Gateway to a Sarawak Guinness World Record”.
The production won in the Best Use of Drones category at the Awards and Gala Dinner held in Cannes, France, on September 24.
STB chief executive officer Dr Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor received the award, accompanied by STB Digital & Communications director Melvin Jong.
The winning production highlights Sarawak’s Guinness World Record for the “Longest Cumulative Distance by a Remote-Controlled Multirotor/Drone Relay”, which covered 1,706.7 kilometres from Tanjung Datu to Lawas over six days.
The drone relay captured Sarawak’s landscapes, heritage, cultures and tourist destinations from the air, turning the record-setting journey into a visual showcase of the State.
Dr Sharzede said the international recognition demonstrated how creativity and technology could bring Sarawak’s identity and experiences to audiences beyond the region.
“This recognition tells us that Sarawak’s story travels. A record-setting drone journey allowed us to present the State as it deserves to be seen, from coastline to interior, while celebrating our people, places and heritage,” she said.
She added that the recognition encouraged STB to continue presenting the “Sarawak, Gateway to Borneo” story in fresh and meaningful ways, particularly as the Visit Malaysia campaign continues through 2027.
The production was created by Kuala Lumpur-based agency ISC International (ISCI), combining the scale of the Guinness World Record attempt with destination storytelling. Rather than focusing solely on the technical achievement, the film used the relay route to document the diversity of experiences across Sarawak.
Jong said the use of drones allowed the State to be presented from perspectives that audiences might not ordinarily experience.
“Combining the record attempt with visual storytelling gave the project a purpose beyond the achievement itself. It allowed us to showcase Sarawak through a different lens, and it is rewarding to see that approach recognised in Cannes,” he said.
The latest recognition adds to STB's use of creative content and technology in promoting Sarawak's tourism offerings, from its rainforests, caves, rivers and coastlines to the traditions and cultures of its communities.
This year's Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards attracted more than 1,000 entries from 55 countries across 63 categories, the largest category lineup in the festival's history.
A total of 253 productions from 38 countries were shortlisted, with 182 productions receiving Dolphin Trophies.
Established in 2010 by Filmservice International, the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards recognises corporate films, online media and audiovisual productions from around the world.
