Apr 21, 2008
BMW announces Top 10 Finalists for BMW Shorties 2008
Mar 31, 2008
BMW Shorties 2008 gets 62 submissions
Mar 07, 2008
BMW Shorties 2008 short film competition deadline nears
Mar 01, 2008
BMW Malaysia organises BMW Shorties 2008
- Judges Clinic
Feb 28, 2008
BMW Shorties 2007 Award winner premieres new film Teddy & I
Jan 22, 2008
BMW Malaysia launches BMWShorties 2008
BMW Shorties 2007 Award winner premieres new film Teddy & I
Double first for Malaysia - The first independent short film to be funded by a Malaysian corporate
entity and to premiere exclusively on the Internet
BMW Malaysia Sdn Bhd today held the premiere of Teddy & I, a short film directed by BMW Shorties 2007 Award winner, Abdullah Zahir b.Omar. The premiere, a pinnacle event in the BMW Shorties 2008 calendar, stays true to the dual role of the short film competitions' principles of providing professional value to talented Malaysian filmmakers as well as enabling all Malaysians the opportunity to appreciate short films as a form of art.
At the premiere, Abdullah said, "Winning the BMW Shorties 2007 Award was an exciting moment for me. However, what the competition did, not just for me but for the other participants as well was that it enabled more doors to be opened for the appreciation of our creations – short films. The competition has also fuelled the independent short film fire in this country, giving budding filmmakers like myself a chance to show our potential. "
The evening also saw another Malaysian first. Teddy & I was premiered to a global audience on the BMW Shorties website at www.bmwshorties.com.my. This marks the first time a Malaysian independent film was premiered using the Internet as its' primary platform. "It's really thrilling that the BMW Shorties has allowed me access to a global audience. Imagine the possibilities!"
Since winning the BMW Shorties 2007 Award, Abdullah Zahir has been involved in making commercial films as a full time director at Axis Films Sdn Bhd. He has had several commercial projects under his belt with several more in the works. ‘Teddy & I' is his most recent project which allowed him to explore a script which he has had in mind for a long time.
"The story revolves around a boy growing up in a dysfunctional environment. It's about how innocence can still exist in the most deplorable conditions, but it is also a critique of society because ultimately unchecked innocence can lead to the most horrible situations" said Abdullah Zahir.
As the recipient of the BMW Shorties 2007 Award, Abdullah Zahir earned RM 50,000 in production assistance as well as advice and professional support from a distinguished panel of judges which included renowned film maker Yasmin Ahmad, Cannes Award winner and director Paul Loosley, movie editor Affandi Jamaludin, experimental film maker James Lee, lecturer and academic Gregory Wee and writer-filmmaker-photographer Danny Lim.
‘Having the advice and support of such talented individuals was certainly a great bonus to making a film, but ultimately the best thing about the BMW Shorties was the way in which BMW Malaysia allowed me to explore my creativity without imposing any form of theme or branding materials. It was a genuine effort to allow me to shoot a short film the way I wanted to and I am grateful for that." added Abdullah Zahir.
Mr. Wolfgang Schlimme, Managing Director, BMW Malaysia Sdn Bhd, meanwhile, said, "It is truly remarkable to be able to watch the creativity of such talents as Zahir on the silver screen and it is gratifying to know that BMW Malaysia played an instrumental part in giving such talent a stage."
Schlimme added that the success of the inaugural season of the BMW Shorties has proven the worth of the short film competition as a programme which extends opportunities and support to exactly where it is needed. Based on that, BMW Malaysia is geared to continue with the BMW Shorties in the hope that other Malaysians will be able to follow suit in light of Zahir's success.
"We recently launched the latest edition of the BMW Shorties on January 22nd and since then; the competition has received a tremendous response. To date, our website www.bmwshorties.com.my has received 3,251 visitors coming not just from Malaysia but from 34 countries as far as the United States, Germany, Australia, Russia, Canada and Norway." said Schlimme.
Abdullah Zahir will also be playing a key role in this year's edition of the BMW Shorties as a member of its panel of judges which also includes such luminaries as Filipino filmmaker and Cannes Film Festival 2000 Golden Palm winner for Best Short Film, Raymond Red; award-winning film and stage actress Ida Nerina as well as Malaysian indie cinema champion, Tan Chui Mui.
With "H20" as this year's theme, the BMW Shorties 2008 is open to any aspiring Malaysian filmmaker aged 18 and above, so long as they have never won in any local or international film festival, competition or awards.
The short film entries will be judged on their originality, content and creativity in interpreting the theme. Film school students and first-time filmmakers are encouraged to send in their short film entries for consideration. Deadline for entries is the 21st of March 2008.
All relevant info regarding the BMWShorties 2008, including application forms, voting processes, viewers' participation as well as Abdullah Zahir Omar's BMW short film Teddy & I can be found at http://www.bmwshorties.com.my.
About BMW Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
BMW Malaysia Sdn Bhd is a joint venture between Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) AG, the manufacturer of BMW vehicles based in Munich, Germany and Sime Darby Berhad. The establishment of this subsidiary in August 2003 reflects the BMW Group's confidence in the long-term future of Malaysia and its commitment to maintain and extend BMW's leading position in the premium market segment.
BMW Malaysia activities cover the wholesale of BMW cars, spare parts and accessories, as well as the overall planning of sales, marketing, after-sales, and other related activities in Malaysia. Its dealership network covers 11 showrooms and workshops in various cities in Malaysia.
Issued by:
BMW Malaysia Sdn Bhd
Vijayaratnam Tharumartnam, Corporate Affairs Manager, Malaysia
Telephone: (+603) 8887 3822, Fax: (+603) 8887 3801
E-mail: vijayaratnam.tharumartnam@bmw.com.my
For media queries, please contact:
Fleishman-Hillard Kuala Lumpur
Nico Marco / Serena Sit / Teoh Seet Heng
Telephone: (+603) 22832730, Fax: (+603) 2283 2750
E-mail: nico.marco@fleishman.com / serena.sit@fleishman.com / seet.teoh@fleishman.com
Media Website: www.press.bmwgroup.com
BMW Shorties Website: www.bmwshorties.com.my