BMW Group Malaysia premiered ‘Langit Budak Biru’, the latest BMW Shorties production by the Grand Prize winner of BMW Shorties 2017, Lim Kean Hian.
As with his award-winning short film ‘Never Was The Shade’ last year, Kean Hian once again demonstrates his bold storytelling and impactful cinematography in ‘Langit Budak Biru’, a short film that explores school bullying and adolescence in its complex dimensions within the Malaysian context.
Weaving together strong dialogue, solid cast acting, and great cinematography, Kean Hian teases out important social realities in the short film while allowing the audience space for their own interpretation, through open-ended conclusions.
‘Langit Budak Biru’ tells the coming-of-age story of two teenage boys grappling with the challenges of school bullying and self-discovery, in a time of great uncertainty and self-doubt in their adolescent years. Featuring a cast of young and fresh acting talents like Idan Aedan and Muhammad Hakeem Abdul Rahim, the BMW-funded short film invites viewers to navigate the emotional struggles of the characters while meeting head-on the wider social and cultural implications of their dilemmas.
Returning for the 12th year, BMW Shorties 2018 is themed “Drive”. To have drive is to be relentlessly compelled to achieve a goal. The urge is innate and motiated by more than passion. It takes ambition. The theme aims to highlight drive as the quality that elevates artists to craftsmen, making it the hallmark of all true innovators.
This year’s line-up of judges consists of top names in the local filmmaking industry, namely BMW Shorties veteran and commercial filmmaker, Lina Tan; multiple award-winning filmmaker, Isazaly Mohd Isa; filmmaker and screenwriter, Nadira Ilana; award-winning filmmaker Tan Chui Mui; and rising storyteller and filmmaker, Quek Shio Chuan.
In celebration of its 12th year, BMW Group Malaysia has also increased the production grant to RM 80,000 for the grand prize winner of the BMW Shorties. Recognition of filmmaking 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 and Best Sound Design as well as the ever-popular People’s Choice Award.
The BMW Shorties is open for entries until Friday, 26th of October 2018 for participants to submit their short film entries. For further information on the BMW Shorties and how to participate, visit the official BMW Shorties website at www.bmwshorties.com.my or the official BMW Shorties Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bmwshorties and Instagram page at www.instagram.com/bmwshorties.
