The sea nomads of Malaysia are stateless people who can lose their home any day, as their stilt houses are burnt down and their boats destroyed. They have been the first people here on the coast of East Sabah, and they have a rich spiritual heritage. The film documents the eviction of the oldest and most traditional villages. Their culture is under threat of eradication or assimilation. This three-part film chronicles their struggle for survival, the evolution of assimilation, and the efforts of grassroots movements.

Director: Joo Peter

Joo Peter is an author, filmmaker and producer who was born in Germany and has a second home in Indonesia. He studied at the Film University of Potsdam-Babelsberg in Berlin and has been working on art and media projects in Southeast Asia for 20 years. In 2015, he founded Cinemate Film Productions, collaborating with indigenous organisations to develop a series of award-winning documentaries on archipelagic cultures ranging from Sumatra to the Pacific Ocean. Starting with a series of short films “Bajau Laut – The Sea is Our Home” is his second feature-length documentary film, following the award-winning “Mentawai – Souls of the Forest”, which was initiated by the Mentawai Indigenous Foundation. His mentor is Ilona Grundmann, a senior producer who has worked with independent filmmakers such as Werner Herzog, as well as broadcasters such as ARTE and ZDF.