BMW

The prestigious short film and digital content competition returns for its 17th year in partnership with the Malaysian International Film Festival, with submissions to open from 1st April to 21st May 2023.

Kuala Lumpur, 3 March 2023 - BMW Group Malaysia announced its partnership with the Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) for the 17th year of the BMW Shorties – propelling local filmmakers and digital content creators forward with greater opportunities to be recognised on the international stage. Alongside the partnership is the unveiling of a new theme for 2023 – EVOLVE – that challenges filmmakers and creatives to continue pushing the boundaries of storytelling, while also encapsulating the evolving nature of the BMW Shorties platform.

Hans de Visser, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia said, “With our 2022 theme, RE:IMAGINE, we were inspired by a whole new generation of creative talents, who managed to weave in unique experiences from the pandemic circumstances into their storytelling. It was a testament to us that creativity evolves through time and circumstances. There is much potential to unearth as we move into the endemic era of the ever-evolving creative industry. Much like the lens of Forwardism embraced by the BMW Group, the BMW Shorties thrives on challenging today’s common conventions, with creative thinkers that dare to bring forward to the present the breakthroughs of tomorrow.”

This year, the BMW Shorties welcomes an official competition partner, the Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest), with a shared commitment to celebrating Malaysian cinema art alongside international works. Underlining MIFFest’s mission is the spirit of humanity and building sustainable connections between creatives within the film art industry. In addition, MIFFest has announced its upcoming festival, taking place from 23rd to 29th July 2023, with a line-up of programmes throughout the week, including film screenings, masterclasses and networking opportunities. As the official automotive partner, BMW Group Malaysia will also be providing exclusive experiences with a fleet of the BMW i7 to chauffeur international film directors and film stars during the festival.

Joanne Goh, Founder and President of MIFFest expressed her excitement about the partnership between BMW Shorties and MIFFest, stating that, “It is great news for the Malaysian film art industry. As an international platform, MIFFest provides an unparalleled opportunity for young generations of Malaysian filmmakers and creators to showcase their talent to an audience that is without borders. With this partnership, aspiring filmmakers and digital content creators stand to gain not only valuable exposure, but also new connections within the industry, allowing them to further spread their wings in their creative endeavours.”

De Visser added that, “Providing a stepping stone for budding creators in the Malaysian film and creative industry – that is our shared purpose with MIFFest. As creativity and ideas continue to evolve with changing times, so too does the BMW Shorties as a platform. This partnership between the BMW Shorties and MIFFest is the natural next step that will open up new frontiers for local talents to discover new experiences on the international stage that will shape their storytelling – in turn, their talents too will be discovered as well.”

The grand prize winner of the BMW Shorties 2023 will be awarded a production grant of RM 80,000 to produce their BMW Shorties funded film. Alongside that, recognition for filmmaking and creative talent will also be awarded in an extensive range of supporting categories, including Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Editing, Best Sound Design, the People’s Choice Award, as well as the Best Student Shorties Award.

Submissions will commence on 1st April 2023 and will close on 21st May 2023 at 6:00PM via the MIFFest website at https://www.mgga.com.my or the BMW Shorties website at www.bmwshorties.com.my. Follow the official BMW Shorties Facebook page and Instagram for updates, or watch winning films from the years before at the BMW Shorties official YouTube channel.