Terms & Conditions

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
FOR ENTRY INTO AND PARTICIPATION IN THE
BMW MALAYSIA SDN BHD (“BMW MALAYSIA”) SHORT FILM COMPETITION
(“RULES”)

NO ENTRY FEE OR PURCHASE NECESSARY TO PARTICIPATE OR WIN.

  1. Introduction
    1. BMW Malaysia Sdn Bhd (“BMW Malaysia”) announces a call for entries to moviemakers of all shapes and sizes for the BMW Malaysia Short Film (“BMW Shorties”) Competition (the "Competition").
    2. Competition participants shall submit an original short film of their own creation that is no longer than fifteen (15) minutes in running time (there is no minimum time requirement) (“Entry/Entries”). A total of one short film with credits should be submitted.
    3. A total of ten (10) Entries will be chosen out of the total number of entries (“Shortlisted Entries”). One (1) or more winner(s) (“Winner(s)”) for the BMW Shorties award will be chosen from these Shortlisted Entries.
    4. A total amount of Ringgit Malaysia Eighty Thousand (RM 80,000.00) (“Award Sum”) will be awarded to the Winner(s). The number of Winner(s) and sum awarded to each Winner(s) shall be decided by BMW Shorties’ panel of judges, at their sole and absolute discretion.
    5. The said Award Sum shall be used in funding to make/produce a short film in the form and manner to be prescribed by BMW Malaysia.
    6. The BMW Shorties also include a community engagement programme (“Understudy Programme”) wherein upon the announcement of the Competition Winner(s), five (5) students from five (5) universities will be recruited to be production assistants in the production company of the Winner(s) to make/produce a short film funded by the Award Sum.
    7. The recruitment process in the said Understudy Programme shall be in the form and manner decided by BMW Malaysia.
  2. Eligibility
    1. The Competition is open to any individual, 18 years of age or older at the time of entry, whose film entry has never won any prizes in any local or international film festival or film award and he/she is a citizen or a permanent resident of Malaysia (“Participant(s)”).
    2. Short films submitted to past years’ BMW Shorties Competitions, or other film festivals and short film competitions, be it local or international will not be eligible for submission in the Competition.
    3. Short films which had been screened in public will be not eligible for submission in the Competition as well, unless the participant identifies their short film as a student submission.
      1. An exception will be made to the clause (2.2) specifically for students whose work has been publicly screened as part of a university mandated showcase. These works must be accompanied by a scanned copy of their student ID (front and back) and a letter of verification by the lecturer which states that they are currently enrolled in their university and the short film was screened as part of a university-mandated showcase.
    4. Employees of BMW Malaysia and any of its affiliated companies within the meaning of Section 6 of the Companies Act 1965 and their respective subsidiaries and agents, and the immediate family (defined as parents, children, siblings and spouse) of each such employees, together with those with whom such employees are domiciled, are not eligible to participate in the Competition.
    5. By participating in the Competition, Participant(s) warrant that they are eligible to participate under the applicable law governing procurement of prizes and awards.
    6. BMW Malaysia reserves the right to disqualify any Participant if BMW Malaysia is of the opinion that Participant did not comply with these Rules, or if the Participant's participation in the Competition or receipt of prize would violate any applicable law.
    7. Participants may be required to submit proof of their eligibility.
    8. Each Participant in the Competition shall fully and unconditionally agree to comply with and abide by these Rules and the decisions of BMW Malaysia and its designated judges, which decisions shall be final and binding in all respects.
  3. How to Enter
    1. The Competition starts on 1st April 2023 and ends on 26th May 2023 (the "Competition Period").
    2. Entries are to be received by BMW Shorties through the website submission portal on or before 6:00PM on the 26th May 2023. Entries which are not submitted during the Competition Period shall be disqualified.
    3. Only one (1) Entry per Participant is permitted.
    4. The Rules and Entry Form are available at www.bmwshorties.com.my
    5. Participants can complete and submit the Entry Form via the website www.bmwshorties.com.my during the Competition Period.
    6. Participant's name must be clearly stated on their Entry. The participant shall upload his/her/their short film with credits onto his/her/their respective YouTube channel with a video quality of 1080p with overall audio level of the audio mix (all of the audio combined) normalised between -10db to -20db.
    7. Participant’s film entry upload must be labelled as “Unlisted” and must not be shared via any online avenues (unless the Participant is eligible for clause (2.3a). A complete Entry will include the full YouTube URL link in the Entry Form. All entry information provided by Participant must be complete, true and correct.
    8. BMW Malaysia and its agents are not responsible or liable for (i) lost, stolen, late, incomplete, invalid, mutilated, illegible or misdirected entries, which will be disqualified; or (ii) for technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to, electronic malfunctioning of any network, hardware or software; or (iii) for any error, human, technical or otherwise.
    9. BMW Malaysia reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any Participants it finds tampering with the operation or entry process of the Competition, or acting in violation of these Rules or applicable law.
    10. BMW Malaysia shall not be liable for or pay any customs fees, duties, taxes or tariffs incurred by the Participant's submission.
    11. Submissions received past the submission deadline of the Competition Period shall not be accepted for review and shall be destroyed.
    12. Participants’ Entries will not be returned.
  4. Entry Requirements
    1. The following requirements shall apply to all Participants and their Entries:
      1. An Entry shall comprise of a short film of up to fifteen (15) minutes in length, including credits. There is no minimum running time.
      2. The dialogue may be in any vernacular languages spoken in Malaysia but if so, the short film must be subtitled in English.
      3. Entries must be submitted with a non-returnable still of the film.
      4. All components of the Entry must be the original creation of the Participant with express exception that BMW Malaysia's products may be incorporated.
      5. Entries shall not contain any profanity, nudity, pornographic images or explicit sexual themes, graphic violence, defamatory or libellous statements or material considered illegal. Entries containing any such aspects and/or that are in violation of any applicable law or otherwise deemed by BMW Malaysia, in its sole discretion, to be inappropriate will be disqualified. Entries which infringe on any intellectual property rights or other rights will also be disqualified in the sole discretion of BMW Malaysia.
      6. Each Entry must be submitted on an individual basis only (i.e., no joint or corporate entries).
      7. Each Entry is an original work which is under no restriction, contractual or otherwise, which will prevent BMW Malaysia and/or MIFFEST’s use of the film and that all films are free of any and all liens, encumbrances and claims of third parties. Participant acknowledges, agrees and warrants that, except as permitted in paragraph 4 (D) above, nothing in the film infringes on any intellectual property rights including but not limited to copyrights or trademarks, or violates any person's rights of privacy or publicity and that all necessary releases, licences and permissions have been secured by the Participants.
      8. The Entry shall not include confidential information, trade secrets, trademarks or copyrighted material belonging to any person or entity other than the Participant save and except where the Participant has acquired a suitable license, clearance or permission agreement (proof of which is required upon submission).
      9. Participants are responsible for securing necessary permissions, talent and location releases and licenses for visual and audio material contained in the submissions. Participants shall only use original music created for their Entry or music that is in the public domain. No other music may be used.
      10. BMW Malaysia and its agents shall not be responsible or liable for any loss, damages, claims costs or expenses incurred in or arising from the production or delivery of the film entries.
      11. Any entry that does not comply with the above requirements or any other terms herein shall be disqualified.
  5. Selection of Winner(s)
    1. Each Entry that is in compliance with these Rules will be reviewed by a panel of judges to be determined by BMW Malaysia. The Entries will be evaluated based upon the following factors:
      1. Originality.
      2. Creativity.
      3. Content.
      4. Story Telling Ability.
      5. Direction.
      6. Emotional Pull.
      7. Outstanding Performances.
    2. ALL DECISIONS OF BMW MALAYSIA AND THE JUDGES ARE FINAL AND BINDING. No inquiries or appeals shall be entertained.
  6. Award Sum
    1. A total amount of Ringgit Malaysia Eighty Thousand (RM 80, 000.00) will be awarded to the Winner(s). The number of Winner(s) and sum awarded to each Winner(s) shall be decided by BMW Malaysia Shorties’ panel of judges, at their sole and absolute discretion.
    2. The said Award Sum shall be used in funding to make/produce a short film which shall be no more than 20 minutes in length.
    3. The selected Winner or Winners must complete his/her/their short film(s) on or before 30th June 2024.
    4. The said Award Sum will be paid to a recognised production company appointed by the Winner(s) that shall work in collaboration with the Winner(s) to make/produce the short film(s). The said Award Sum will be paid to the production company based on budget approvals provided by the production company and pursuant to discussions with the Winner(s).
    5. Any and all rights in the short film(s) produced using the Award Sum and the Winner(s)’ Entries shall belong to BMW Malaysia.
  7. Winning and Notification
    1. The Participants of the Shortlisted Entries and Winner(s) will be announced by 30th June 2023 at MIFFest’s press conference, and be posted on both www.miffest.com.my and www.bmwshorties.com.my as well as all social media platforms of BMW Shorties and MIFFest. The Participants of the Shortlisted Entries and the Winner(s) will also be notified by email or on mobile phone, using the contact details provided on the Entry Form.
      1. Once the notification email is received, participants are required to send in the following materials within two (2) weeks’ time:
        • High-definition Portraits (Director, Screenplay Writer, Cinematographer, Production Designer, Editor, Sound Designer, Main Casts) to be used for announcement-purposes during the press conference on 30th June 2023
        • For the purposes of creating the cinema exhibition copy for the Digital Cinema Package (DCP), the following technical requirements are requested:
          • Image: QuickTime ProRes, H.264 (Must be over 20 Mbps; High Profile)
          • Frame Rate: 24fps (23.98fps), 25fps, 30fps
          • Audio: 2.0 Stereo or 5.1 Linear PCM
          • Subtitles: in Sync SRT file format
      2. DCPs will be created for MIFFest's screening use only. Copies of the DCP will not be shared to any party.
    2. BMW Malaysia or its agents will attempt to notify the Winner(s) by email or on mobile phone, using the contact details provided on the Entry Form. If for any reason the selected Winner or Winners cannot be reached after reasonable attempt has been made, the judges will select other Winner(s) from the Shortlisted Entries and award the Award Sum to these Winner(s).
  8. Understudy Programme
    1. The selected Winner(s) must include in his/her/their making/production of the short film funded by the Award Sum, five (5) students from five (5) universities as production assistants which shall be selected by BMW Malaysia in the Understudy Programme, at their sole and absolute discretion.
    2. BMW Malaysia and its agents will run, manage, and control the recruitment process of the Understudy Programme in the form and manner decided by BMW Malaysia.
    3. Should participation from the Competition Winner(s) be required, BMW Malaysia and its agents will notify the Winner(s) by email or on mobile phone, using the contact details provided on the Entry Form.
    4. The roles of the five (5) students from five (5) universities recruited as production assistants in the production company of the Winner(s) to be a part of the short film funded by the Award Sum, shall be decided by the Winner(s) and his/her/their production team.
    5. The said Understudy Programme will run for a period of three months during the production period of the short film funded by the Award Sum.
    6. During the period of the Understudy Programme, the Winner(s) shall not be obliged to any kind of payment or fee to the selected production assistants. Any payment or fee from the Winner(s) and/or the production company shall be at their own discretion.
    7. BMW Malaysia shall not be responsible for any sum of fee to the selected production assistants and shall not be responsible or liable for any injury to persons, which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from the Understudy Programme.
  9. Ownership and License of Entries
    1. Participants, as the original creators of the Entries, will retain complete ownership of the Entries. Participants warrant that they hold all rights (including intellectual property rights) in and to the animation(s)/image(s)/material(s) in the animation and/or film sequences submitted.
    2. Each Participant grants to BMW Malaysia a perpetual, non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license ("License") to use, reproduce, edit, distribute, publish, broadcast, stream, make derivative works of and otherwise exploit in any manner and to authorise third parties to use, reproduce, edit, distribute, publish, broadcast, stream, make derivative works of and otherwise exploit in any manner the Entries, including without limitation broadcasting the Entries on www.bmwshorties.com.my and/or in connection with any activities carried out by BMW Malaysia and/or its affiliated companies.
    3. In consideration of the Award Sum, the Winner(s) shall assign any and all rights, including without limitation copyright, in their winning Entries to BMW Malaysia. Further, the Winner(s) agree that BMW Malaysia shall own any and all rights in the short film(s) that are produced using the Award Sum in accordance with Clause 7 above. The Winner(s) shall be permitted to use his/her 9.4 Entries and/or the short film(s) produced using the Award Sum PROVIDED ALWAYS that the prior written consent of BMW Malaysia is obtained.
    4. Entries and/or the short film(s) produced using the Award Sum PROVIDED ALWAYS that the prior written consent of BMW Malaysia is obtained.
    5. Participant warrants that the granting of the License and BMW Malaysia’s exercise of such License shall not violate any third-party rights. Further, Participant waives his/her moral rights in the Entries and agrees that this waiver shall be binding on his/her heirs and/or successors in title.
    6. BMW Malaysia reserves the right and power, at its sole discretion, to edit, translate, dub or alter the Entries for, inter alia, size, aspect ratio or running length.
    7. Each Participant's submission of the Entry Form constitutes his/her agreement to the grant of the License and to BMW Malaysia's right to edit the Entries as set forth herein.
    8. BMW Malaysia will not return any tangible copies of the Entries to the Participants and shall not be responsible or liable for any loss or damage thereof. Participants acknowledge the receipt of adequate consideration from BMW Malaysia in exchange for the rights granted herein.
  10. General Terms and Conditions
    1. Participation in the Competition constitutes Participant's full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Rules. No purchase is necessary to enter or win, and no obligation of any kind is implied.
    2. Except where prohibited by law, participation in the Competition constitutes the Participant's consent to BMW Malaysia's use of the Participant's name, city, state, likeness, photograph, statements made by the Participant about the Competition, BMW Malaysia, and/or prize information for promotional purposes in any media without further payment or consideration.
    3. By entering the Competition, the participant agrees to release hold harmless indemnify and keep indemnified BMW Malaysia, the Competition sponsors, their affiliated companies within the meaning of section 6 of the companies act 1965, and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents, as well as the individual judges, from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participants’ participation in the Competition, including without limitation any claim for infringement of intellectual property rights or receipt, possession, use or misuse of any prize. BMW Malaysia reserves the right to cancel or modify this Competition for its convenience or if fraud, technical failures or any other factor beyond BMW Malaysia's reasonable control impairs the integrity of the Competition as determined by BMW Malaysia in its sole discretion. Any disputes arising from or relating to the Competition or the selection of winning submissions will be resolved by BMW Malaysia, in its sole discretion.
    4. BMW Malaysia shall not be responsible or liable for any injury or damage to persons or to property, which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from downloading any material from any BMW Malaysia's web sites, regardless of whether the material was prepared by BMW Malaysia or a third party, and regardless of whether the material is connected to BMW Malaysia's web sites by a hypertext link. All local and national laws and regulations apply.
  11. Miscellaneous
    1. Participant agrees that:
      1. no class action shall be initiated for any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or in connection with this Competition, or any prizes awarded herein. Any disputes shall first be resolved amicably between parties, failing which parties are bound within the legal jurisdiction Malaysian Courts.;
      2. any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Competition but in no event attorneys' fees; and
      3. under no circumstances will Participant be permitted to obtain awards for and Participant hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased.
      4. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Rules, or the rights and obligations of Participant on the one hand and BMW Malaysia and its agents on the other hand, in connection with the Competition, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of Malaysia, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules of provisions, which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than Malaysia.
  12. Sponsor
    1. The Sponsor of this Competition is BMW Malaysia, who has a business address at 3501 Jalan Teknokrat 5, 63000 Cyberjaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
  13. Rules; Winner(s)’ List
    1. A copy of these Rules will be posted at www.bmwshorties.com.my. Details of the Winner(s), once available, will be posted at www.bmwshorties.com.my by August 2023.