Filming your event in Tuaran, north of Kota Kinabalu

Tuaran lies on the main highway north of Kota Kinabalu. For many events, the real questions are who decides what may be filmed, how the town behaves on a Sunday, and whether the venue is on a river.

What is different about filming in Tuaran?

Sunday morning in town. The tamu, an open-air market for produce, seafood and handicrafts, is held every Sunday morning. If your event is in or near the town centre that day, ask about roads, parking and a loading spot before you fix the call time.

Lotud and Dusun customs. About half of Tuaran’s people are Dusun, mostly the Lotud group, with Bajau, Hakka Chinese and Malay families too. Ask the family or village committee which parts of a ceremony may be filmed. Our guide to Kaamatan community celebrations lists questions to settle, and the community event videography page shows how we plan them.

Rivers and cultural villages. Linangkit Cultural Village in Kampung Selupuh offers Lotud culture, handicrafts, a river cruise and firefly watching, and white-water rafting runs on the Kiulu River. For a company day or a family outing on the water, ask the operator about boat numbers, life jackets and where a camera may stand.

Which events are common in Tuaran?

Weddings and church celebrations, family gatherings, school and company days, and community festivals are the usual settings. Halls, churches, village compounds, resorts and riverside sites all appear. The venue decides the plan: a hall needs a sound and power check, a village compound needs a roofed backup, and a riverside site needs a safety talk with the operator.

What should you settle before you enquire?

1. The village or venue name, and the road you will use to reach it.
2. The running order, with start and finish times.
3. Who approves filming for the ceremony or community part.
4. A roofed backup for outdoor moments. See filming an outdoor event with a wet-weather plan.
5. Whether you want a drone shot. CAAM says Sabah needs extra authorisation, so read the Sabah drone questions first.

What we confirm for your event

Write your answers into the event video brief builder and send it to us. A date is confirmed only after scope and terms are agreed, and the quote shows what moves it for Tuaran: your hours, any early or late call, and the number of films.

For hotel and convention venues, see Kota Kinabalu. For another place with strong community traditions, read Penampang, or return to event videography in Sabah.