Young Sabahan director’s captivating film explores the universal theme of beauty on the unique cultural backdrop of her home, Sabah.

Kuala Lumpur, 5th January 2021 BMW Group Malaysia recently premiered ‘RAMA RAMA’ – a BMW-funded film by BMW Shorties 2019 grand prize winner, Ekin Kee Charles.

RAMA RAMA tells the coming-of-age story of a little girl in a small village in Sabah, as it grapples with the notion of conventional beauty from a perspective of innocence. The film challenges viewers to contemplate on the standards that dictate beauty and how it permeates throughout every rung of society and culture. The intricately-designed scenes and remarkable acting by Ekin’s diverse cast of everyday people, come together to give life to her masterful storytelling on screen, amplifying the message that she has set out to convey – seen even in her winning short film, PACE.

“I would like to thank the BMW Shorties for giving me this opportunity to not only produce a short film about what matters most to me, but also the opportunity to premiere it in front of my family and friends, industry veterans, and media friends. I am also grateful for my team who has gone through thick and thin with me to achieve our goal in making this short film a reality, especially during these unprecedented times,” Ekin said.

She added, “As a filmmaker, I believe that short films are a medium to approach timely issues surrounding us, especially perspectives that may sometimes get lost in general debate and discourse.”

The premiere of ‘RAMA RAMA’ was held in conjunction with the BMW Shorties & Chill, the First-Ever BMW Shorties Digital Premiere. The virtual event, which was also screened live on-ground with strict adherence to standard operating procedures, featured a day of music performances, activities with the BMW Shorties alumni, a panel discussion, and the highly-anticipated premiere of RAMA RAMA itself.

Sashi Ambi, Head of Corporate Communications of BMW Group Malaysia said, “Over the past 14 years, the BMW Shorties has served as a platform for emerging filmmakers and digital content creators to express their creativity – and we are proud to continue this initiative into the new decade ahead.”

He added, “Even as we enter 2021, we are glad to see talents in film and digital content creation overcome the hurdles presented last year by the pandemic and remain resilient in this ever-changing environment. With the BMW Shorties & Chill, we celebrate all who overcame the limitations with perseverance and resilience – one of whom is our very own Ekin Kee Charles, the youngest and only Sabahan Grand Prize Winner of the BMW Shorties.”

The BMW Shorties will return this year with the theme, CHARGE – as it continues to encourage local talents to charge boldly into 2021, after all the circumstances presented last year. The reopening of submissions will be announced soon, and participants from 2020 are allowed to resubmit their short films if necessary. Those who missed the 2020 submission deadline may also submit their entries later this year.

For further information on the BMW Shorties, visit the official BMW Shorties website at www.bmwshorties.com.my or the official BMW Shorties Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bmwshorties and Instagram page at www.instagram.com/bmwshorties.