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BMW announces Top 10 Finalists for BMW Shorties 2008 Short Film competition continues to receive extremely positive response
10 budding filmmakers were honoured by BMW Malaysia today when their entries were chosen as the finalists for this year’s BMW Shorties. The 10 were chosen from an extensive field of 62 entries that had been submitted for the short film competition, now into its second year.
As with last year, the 2008 BMW Shorties finalists come from a myriad of backgrounds and professions. Ranging from an English language tutor to an account manager, their entries also reflected this diversity with a mix of films that ran from the existentialistic to the farcical.
(L-R) Vijayaratnam Tharumartnam (Corporate Affairs Manager, BMW Malaysia), Abdullah Zahir bin Omar (Judge), Ida Nerina (Judge) and Tan Chui Mui (Judge)
“Once again, we are very encouraged by the strong response. This year we have the benefit of experience and so we’re much better prepared to deal with the many entries,” said Vijayaratnam Tharumartnam, Corporate Affairs Manager of BMW Group Malaysia. “It was very interesting to see how the different participants tackled the theme in very unique styles,” he added.
The finalists, with their various interpretations of this year’s theme “H2O”, were selected after two days of heated debate by a distinguished panel of judges that comprised award-winning Filipino filmmaker Raymond Red, actress Ida Nerina, award winning independent film maker Tan Chui Mui and last year’s BMW Shorties winner, Abdullah Zahir bin Omar.
A Grand Prize of up to RM75, 000 in production assistance to make a professional short film is up for grabs. This film will then have the opportunity to be showcased in international film festivals through the BMW Group’s global network. The winners’ announcement for the BMW Shorties will be made on May 15th, 2008.
BMW Shorties 2008 Top 10 Finalists
Freelance artist Nazim Mohamed Esa, researched and read about water before starting work on his entry, For the Love of Drowning, a surrealistic tale of love and relationships. “It took me three weeks to come up with the idea and after which, everything came naturally,” he said. His entry, explores the intricacies of a relationship that shifts between the past and the present, dream and reality and the complexity of communication.
For freelance production designer Law Gwo Yunn, it was second time lucky with Seven Square, as she had submitted an entry last year but did not make the Top 10. “Last year’s effort spurred me on to do better and I’m ecstatic to be in the Top 10.”
English tutor Mahaletchumi Tavamany found the BMW Shorties a chance to explore her creative side. Sing in the Rain, a comedy, is her first effort at filmmaking. “It was great fun producing the film and I’m glad I submitted the entry,” she said.
Lim Kean Sang, used the BMW Shorties to unleash his creative prowess and showcase his debut experimental film titled Dissolve. “I have entered competitions previously but this is the first time I am in the Top 10. The three weeks of planning and shooting were definitely worth the effort,” Kean Sang said.
Finalist Lee Eng Keong’s entry, Going Home, was his second attempt at short films. “I was inspired to do a film about the environment because during my time in Penang, I noticed how polluted our rivers are.” The 35-year-old drama instructor, who works closely with children, aspires to be a director one day.
For film maker Shanjey Kumar Perumal, the news that his entry Broken Bangles had made the Top 10 was a cause of anxiety, as he is still in India on a shoot. He was concerned that he would not make it home in time for any of the related BMW Shorties events but he managed to in the end.
Having previously started out in acting, corporate account manager, Choong Hui Shen said that the BMW Shorties provided an avenue for her to wear different hats. The idea for her entry, F.L.O.W, came from her experience of living without water for a day. “What struck me is the reality that my experience can actually happen to anyone,” she said.
For Yeo Yee Haeng who did a one-year postgraduate course in film production at Murdoch University, Perth in 2006, making the finalists’ list is a dream come true. His Chinese-language entry, Chicken Rice Mystery is featured in Mandarin, Hokkien and Cantonese dialects. It talks about a young boy who investigates why his mother stopped making a special chicken rice dish after he was born.
The somewhat ‘imaginative’ perspective of a five-year-old was Mohammad Izwan Kamal’s inspiration for his entry, Goat.
The youngest in the top 10 was Wan Mun Hon, 22, who submitted an entry titled Cold Water. “I am honoured to be shortlisted and hope this motivates students to come up with more short films,” said the soft-spoken boy in Cantonese.
(L-R) Abdullah Zahir bin Omar (Judge), Mahaletchumi Tavamany, Lee Eng Keong, Ida Nerina (Judge), Wan Mun Hon, Law Gwo Yunn, Vijayaratnam Tharumartnam (Corporate Affairs Manager, BMW Malaysia), Tan Chui Mui (Judge), Teresa Choong, Mohammad Izwan Kamal, Shanjey Kumar Perumal, Lim Kean Sang and Nazim Mohamed Esa
Each of the four judges was given two weeks to review the 62 entries and score each film. The judging process culminated with a weekend that saw all the judges coming together to discuss the different films and how to award the different prizes. “The judging process was very challenging and fraught with lots of spirited discussions. My fellow judges and I were very committed with our opinions and worked hard to put our views across. While not necessarily easy, it proved to be a very insightful and interesting exercise,” said Raymond Red, who sat as Chief Judge.
Meanwhile, members of the public can now watch and vote for their favourite short films as the 10 entries are now viewable on the BMW Shorties website. The finalist with the most votes will receive the People’s Choice Award, to be presented on May 15, after the announcement of the Grand Prize winner.
Tharumartnam says that the programme has been successful in terms of raising the profile of Malaysian filmmakers. “The BMW Shorties is not just about unearthing and nurturing new talent. It is also about providing them with a platform on which to shine. We are looking forward now to the response on the BMW Shorties website as all 10 films will “go live’ today. Last year the traffic on our website to watch the finalists was so heavy, we were forced to increase bandwidth several times. I do encourage people to come to the website so that they can at least get a feel of how much talent lies hidden in the Malaysian film community,” he adds.
The BMW Shorties is targeted at aspiring Malaysian film makers of any age, as long as they have never won in any local or international film festival, competition or awards.
To vote and be a part of the BMW Shorties Short Film Competition experience, visit the website at 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