KUCHING: The Borneo Animation & Games Festival (BAGFEST) 2026 will give Sarawak creators access to global investors, publishers and studios.
The BAGFEST will run here from August 19 to 23, featuring more than 30 international and Malaysian speakers and over 50 exhibitors.
Co-organised by Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), the festival aims to generate opportunities in original intellectual property (IP) development, investment, business partnerships, talent development and international market access.
Its programme will include business matching sessions, an elevator pitch competition, portfolio reviews, technical workshops, and a networking dinner.
An international conference, exhibitions, animation film screenings, BAGFEST Con and a two-day MYFutureJobs Metaverse Career Fair will also be held.
SDEC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and BAGFEST 2026 co-chair, Datuk Sudarnoto Osman, said the festival was designed to give Sarawak creators stronger pathways into regional and international markets.
“We want more Sarawak-made ideas to become globally recognised intellectual property.
“Our hope is that, years from now, we’ll be able to look back and know that a successful Sarawak studio, a breakthrough game or an internationally recognised animation can trace its beginnings back to BAGFEST,” he said.
MDEC’s CEO and BAGFEST 2026 co-chair, Anuar Fariz Fadzil, said the gathering would support original Malaysian IP development, international collaborations and new business opportunities.
“Together with SDEC, we are positioning Sarawak as a regional gateway for the animation, games and digital content industry,” he said.
The festival will cover six programme areas: creative excellence and storytelling; original IP development and globalisation; business growth and commercialisation; future technologies and artificial intelligence; talent development; and community participation.
International speakers include Hasbro Entertainment’s Vice-President of Production, Rob Doherty, whose credits include ‘Angry Birds: Summer Madness’, ‘Supa Team 4’ and ‘Space Chickens in Space’.
The line-up also includes Wētā FX’s lead animation supervisor, Sidney Kombo, who worked on ‘Avengers: Endgame’, ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘War for the Planet of the Apes’; Pixar Animation Studios’ technical director for simulation, Lyon Liew; The Pinkfong Company’s Executive Director and co-founder, Ryan Lee; and Throne Inc’s CEO and producer, Takafumi Yuki.
Malaysian speakers include Enfiniti Group of Companies’ Group CEO and President, Puan Sri Datin Seri Tiara Jacquelina Eu Effendi; and Les’ Copaque Production’s founder and Managing Director, Datuk Tuan Burhanuddin Md Radzi, creator of ‘Upin & Ipin’.
WAU Animation’s founder and CEO, Usamah Zaid Yasin, creator of the ‘Ejen Ali’ franchise; Visional Pop’s supervising producer, Juhaidah Joemin; and Metronomik’s Wan Hazmer, the game developer behind ‘No Straight Roads’, are also among the speakers.
The exhibition will feature government agencies, technology companies, creative studios and higher learning institutions.
Participants include Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd, Metadise.io, Todak Studios, FlyStudio, Lemon Sky Studios, TrifoldX, the Sabah Creative Economy and Innovation Centre, Multimedia University, Asia Pacific University, University of Technology Sarawak and Algoin Tech.
UNICEF Malaysia will contribute its expertise in child online protection to discussions on creating safer and more inclusive games and digital experiences for children.
The official opening ceremony will be held on August 21 and is expected to be attended by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and Digital Minister, Gobind Singh Deo.
