We are officially opening casting submissions for our upcoming feature film, What the River Left Behind—an independent, deeply emotional cinematic experience that delves into the unspoken, the unresolved, and the inevitable tides of fate.​

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ABOUT THE FILM

Set in 1990s Sarawak, this film is a hauntingly raw and poetic journey of fractured bloodlines, buried pasts, and the weight of choices that shape destiny. The river carries many things—memories, guilt, time. Some return. Some are lost forever.

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This is a story about home. And what it means when home no longer recognises you.

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CASTING DETAILS

We are looking for authentic, emotionally grounded performances that embody the depth, vulnerability, and quiet intensity of these characters. The roles require performers with a strong emotional range, naturalism, and an ability to convey deep internal conflict with minimal words.

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Applicants must submit a casting video performing a scene from the given script. 

1. The script provided is in English. Please translate it into Iban for the casting, according to your interpretation and understanding.

2. For the casting audition of Tai Seng Li, please translate it into Sarawakian Malay.

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Download scripts & character briefs here: 

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ROLES AVAILABLE

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JUAN ANKING (Male, late 20s – early 30s) - Iban

Once the eldest son of the longhouse, now a man returning to a place that no longer feels like home.

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IGAU ANKING (Male, late 20s – early 30s) - Iban

The brother who stayed behind, carrying the weight of decisions no one else wanted to make.

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NOMI ANKING (Female, mid-to-late 20s) - Iban

Strong-willed, resilient, and sharp-tongued, but beneath it all, a heart that carries more than it lets on.

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RINA ANKING (Female, 9-12 years old) - Iban

A bright, curious girl, always drawn to the river. She is both presence and absence in the story.

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INDAI MARY ANKING (Female, late 50s – 60s) - Iban

A mother whose silence holds stories. Frail, yet a figure that looms over everything.

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SARA NYIRU (Female, late 20s – early 30s) - Iban

A woman with her own past, her own quiet strength. She has seen Juan leave, and now, she sees him return.

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TUA SIMAI (Male, late 50s – 60s) - Iban

A sharp-witted farm owner with a mouth that never holds back, yet his words carry unexpected wisdom.

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TAI SENG LI (Male, 40s – 50s) - Chinese

A businessman who sees land not as history, but as opportunity. A man of logic in an emotional world.

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HOW TO APPLY?

1. Fill out the casting form below.

2. Select a role you wish to audition for (multiple roles allowed).

3. The script provided is in English. Please translate it into Iban for the casting, according to your interpretation and understanding.

4. For the casting audition of Tai Seng Li, please translate it into Sarawakian Malay.

5. Record a casting video performing the script for the selected role.

6. If applying without a specific role, you must still submit a casting video of at least one scene from the given scripts.

7. Upload and submit your video as per the instructions on the form.

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REQUIREMENT​

1. Fluent in Iban & Sarawakian Dialect (or able to deliver convincingly)

2. Authenticity & emotional depth—this is NOT a theatrical performance, but a deeply natural, grounded story.

3. Characters are Iban natives, but we are open to flexible talents with similar characteristics.

4. No prior acting experience required, but performances must feel real and lived-in.

5. This is a story that lingers. A story that feels like something you’ve known before, even if you’ve never lived it.

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APPLY NOW THROUGH THE FORM BELOW