Akmal Azhar
KUALA LUMPUR, August 25, 2025 – BMW Group Malaysia today announced the launch of the 19th edition of the BMW Shorties, the country’s longest-running arts and culture initiative for digital content creation. This year’s competition challenges local storytellers to explore the theme “New Dimensions.”
The Theme: A Call for Innovative Storytelling
The new theme, “New Dimensions,” invites Malaysian filmmakers and digital content creators to venture into unfamiliar territory. It encourages the exploration of untold perspectives, a reimagination of form and structure, and the crafting of narratives that defy conventional expectations.
Leadership Perspective
Sashi Ambihaipahan, Director of Corporate Communications and Sustainability at BMW Group Malaysia, shared her insights on the theme’s significance. “With each passing year, the BMW Shorties has transformed from a competition into a movement that reflects the ever-changing pulse of creativity in Malaysia,” she said. “This year, we are challenging our storytellers to transcend convention… In the same spirit, we invite creators to embrace the many pathways toward creative expression because the future of storytelling, much like the Future of Mobility, is not linear — it is transformative.”
A Legacy of Empowering Talent
Since its establishment in 2006, the BMW Shorties has served as a crucial platform for Malaysian creative talent. The initiative has garnered over 1,300 submissions, awarded more than 130 supporting awards, and crowned 17 grand prize winners. Its legacy includes catapulting local voices to global stages, with films screened at renowned international festivals in Cannes, Rotterdam, Oberhausen, and New York.
The 2025 Judging Panel
This year’s submissions will be evaluated by an esteemed panel of five award-winning figures who have significantly shaped the Malaysian film industry, including Zan Azlee, a filmmaker and educator known for his socially driven work; Dato’ Gerald Hans Isaac, Chairman of the National Film Development Corporation (FINAS) and a veteran with a decades-spanning career; Nadiah Hamzah, a filmmaker recognized for her emotionally layered films; Saw Teong Hin, a director whose command of visual storytelling has brought Malaysian narratives international acclaim; and Ts. Dr. Vimala Perumal, a pioneering voice in Malaysian Tamil cinema.
Judges’ Insights on “New Dimensions”
The panel shared their expectations for this year’s entries. Zan Azlee hopes to see stories that spark real conversation and social reflection, while Dato’ Gerald Hans Isaac sees the theme as a call to build an industry capable of shaping global conversations. Saw Teong Hin reflected that the theme is a leap into the unknown that opens magical possibilities. Nadiah Hamzah encouraged creators to trust that when we dare to feel deeply, we begin to embrace instinct and vulnerability. Ts. Dr. Vimala Perumal looks forward to the platform nurturing authenticity and cultivating a new wave of storytellers.
Competition Details and Awards
The Grand Prize Winner will receive a production grant of RM 50,000 to produce their short film. Recognition will also be awarded across a range of supporting categories, including Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Editing, Best Sound Design, People’s Choice Award, and Best Student Award.
How to Participate
Submissions are open from September 1 until October 24, 2025, at 6:00 PM via the official BMW Shorties website at www.bmwshorties.com.my. Updates and more information can be found by following the official BMW Shorties Facebook and Instagram pages. Previous winning submissions can be viewed on the BMW Shorties YouTube channel.
Zakirin
