BMW Group Malaysia Partners Malaysia International Film Festival For BMW Shorties 2023
For BMW Shorties 2023, BMW Group Malaysia will be partnering with the Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest). This partnership for the 17th edition of BMW Shorties should help boost opportunities and recognition for local filmmakers and digital content creators on an international level.
Alongside the announcement of this partnership is the unveiling of a new theme for 2023 i.e. EVOLVE. This is to challenge filmmakers and creators to continue pushing the boundaries of storytelling, while also encapsulating the evolving nature of the BMW Shorties platform.
Like BMW Shorties, its new official competition partner, MIFFest, shares the commitment to celebrate 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. Furthermore, MIFFest has announced its upcoming festival will be held from 23 to 29 July 2023. It will have 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.
“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,” Hans de Visser, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia said.
Joanne Goh, Founder and President of MIFFest, also expressed her excitement about the partnership between BMW Shorties and MIFFest, “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, “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.”
BMW Shorties 2023 will be awarding the grand prize winner with a production grant of RM80,000 to produce their BMW Shorties funded film. Besides 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 for BMW Shorties will start on 1 April 2023 and will close on 21 May 2023 at 6:00 PM. You can submit via the MIFFest website (https://www.mgga.com.my) or the BMW Shorties website (https://www.bmwshorties.com.my).
Follow the official BMW Shorties Facebook and Instagram pages for updates, or watch winning films from past years on the official BMW Shorties YouTube channel.