S’wak Tourism Board wins Black Dolphin Trophy at Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards 2026 in France

From left: Jong, Alvin of ISC International, and Sharzede with the Black Dolphin Trophy at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards 2026 in Cannes, France, on Sept 24, 2026. Source: STB

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Sept 29: Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) has received international recognition at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards 2026, winning a Black Dolphin Trophy for its entry, ‘Gateway to a Sarawak Guinness World Record’, in the Best Use of Drones category.

According to a press release, the trophy was presented at the awards programme and gala dinner held in Cannes, France, on Sept 24, where STB chief executive officer (CEO) Dr Sharzede Datu Salleh Askor received the award accompanied by the director of Digital & Communications, Melvin Jong.

The recognition comes from a record-setting edition of the awards, which attracted over 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, and 182 ultimately received the coveted Dolphin Trophies.

The winning production centres on Sarawak’s Guinness World Record for the Longest Cumulative Distance by a Remote-Controlled Multirotor/Drone Relay.

Over six days, the relay covered 1,706.7 kilometres from Tanjung Datu to Lawas, capturing Sarawak’s landscapes, heritage, culture, and destinations from the air while transforming a record-setting achievement into a visual journey across the State.

Sharzede said the 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.

“For any destination, creativity matters as much as reach. Being recognised on this international stage encourages us to continue telling the ‘Sarawak, Gateway to Borneo’ story in fresh and meaningful ways, particularly as Malaysia’s Visit Malaysia campaign continues through 2027,” she said.

Created by Kuala Lumpur-based agency ISC International (ISCI), the production brought together the scale of the Guinness World Record attempt with destination storytelling, allowing audiences to follow the journey from one end of Sarawak to the other.

More than documenting the technical achievement, the film used the route as a window into the diversity of experiences found across the destination.

Jong said the drones gave them a chance to show Sarawak from a perspective audiences may 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 award also reflects STB’s continued use of creative content and technology to strengthen destination promotion. From rainforests, caves, rivers and coastlines to the traditions and cultures of its communities, Sarawak offers a diversity of experiences that lends itself naturally to visual storytelling.

Established in 2010 by Filmservice International, the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards recognises excellence in corporate film, online media and audiovisual productions from around the world.

As global attention continues to turn to Malaysia through the Visit Malaysia campaign, extended to 2027, the Black Dolphin Trophy adds further international recognition to how Sarawak shares its destination story with the world, reinforcing its position as ‘Sarawak, Gateway to Borneo’. — DayakDaily