About this event
The film Disappearing Voices of the Lotud High Priestesses in Sabah, East Malaysia explores an endangered ritual tradition belonging to the Lotud people of Sabah, Malaysia.
Through collaborative filmmaking, academic research, and Indigenous cultural knowledge, the project documents the voices, experiences, and wisdom of the remaining Lotud high priestesses and reflects on the challenges of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in a rapidly changing world. The screening will be followed by a hybrid panel discussion bringing together the film's producers, director, community representatives, and researchers.
Discussion themes
- What inspired the creation of the documentary and the collaboration behind it?
- What is at stake when oral traditions and cultural knowledge are no longer passed between generations?
- What can be learned from collaborations between Indigenous communities, researchers, and filmmakers?
- How can documentary filmmaking contribute to safeguarding endangered cultural heritage?
- What possibilities exist for ensuring that traditional knowledge remains meaningful for future generations?
Programme
- 12:00–12:30 – Arrival of Participants
- 12:30–12:35 – Welcome Address and Introduction of Film by Assoc Prof Yunci Cai, University of Leicester
- 12:35–13:20 – Screening of Film
- 13:20–13:25 – Set-up for Panel Discussion
- 13:25–13:30 – Address by Florence Lambert, Head of Arts and Creative Industries, British Council Malaysia
- 13:30–14:05 – Hybrid Panel Discussion
- 14:05–14:25 – Audience Questions and Answers with Panelists
- 14:25–14:30 – Closing Remarks
The event provides an opportunity to engage with questions of heritage preservation, Indigenous knowledge, community collaboration, and the role of film in documenting and communicating cultural traditions.