At the recent 19th edition of the BMW Shorties programme, ‘Anak Omputeh’ by Darwish Syahmi from Multimedia University Cyberjaya (MMU) was awarded as the Grand Prize Winner. Darwish makes history as the first director to win both the Grand Prize and the Best Student Shorties Award in the same year, marking a milestone for student filmmaking in Malaysia.
Sashi Ambihaipahan, Director of Corporate Communications and Sustainability, BMW Group Malaysia said, “The BMW Shorties, as our longest-running Arts & Culture initiative, remains at the heart of our mission to discover and celebrate Malaysia’s immense creative talent. For 19 years, this programme has championed emerging voices, and this year’s Grand Prize Winner represents a truly remarkable achievement, showcasing the exceptional calibre of local student talent. Our commitment has always stood for nurturing creativity and innovation, and this extends across our other initiatives, including ENVision.Next, BMW Technical Trainee, and BMW Product Genius programmes, all designed to cultivate a society driven by creativity, innovation, and progress.”
Inspired by his childhood, Darwish’s ‘Anak Omputeh’ tells the story of Lan, a young Malay boy returning to his father’s kampung after five years abroad. Struggling to connect with local boys and navigate a foreign culture, Lan embarks on comedic adventures that lead him to embrace kampung life and friendship. The film authentically portrays the experience of ‘Third Culture Kids’ and won the People’s Choice Award at the BMW Shorties.
At 20, Darwish Syahmi entered the BMW Shorties with a strong creative background from MMU Cyberjaya’s Faculty of Cinematic Arts. His works include ‘Kapak’ (2023), nominated at the Mini Film Festival in Sarawak, and the experimental film ‘FORYOU32GODSAVEOURCHILDREN’ (2023). With hopes to impact Malaysian cinema, he aims to write and direct a feature film.
Reflecting on his win, Darwish shared, “This entire experience has been absolutely amazing. ‘Anak Omputeh’ came from a very personal place of wanting to show the experience of ‘Third Culture Kids’, that even when you do not speak the same language, you can be united on the universal language of kindness and compassion. I am very grateful to my cast and crew who took a chance on this story, and to the BMW Shorties for giving student creators a chance to be seen on such a prestigious platform. Winning both the Grand Prize and Best Student Shorties Award has given me the confidence to take this passion even further, and I am thrilled to have the chance to keep making projects that feel honest and rooted in the Malaysian experience.”
Darwish Syahmi received RM50,000 as a grant to help produce his next project. Along with the grant, he got the new OPPO Find X9 Pro from OPPO Malaysia, which will help him create beautiful digital content with the latest mobile technology.
His project, ‘Anak Omputeh’, was chosen for its authentic look at culture and its strong storytelling. A panel of respected industry figures, including filmmaker Zan Azlee, actress and writer Fatimah Abu Bakar, director Nadiah Hamzah, director Saw Teong Hin, and Tamil cinema pioneer Ts. Dr. Vimala Perumal, selected it.
Nadiah Hamzah said, “This story handles the complexities of cultural identity with both sensitivity and warmth. The non-judgmental way the story unfolds, and how the community naturally embraces Lan, reflects a deep understanding of human connection. Darwish has shown a maturity in his storytelling that speaks to his potential as a director who can explore complex themes with heart and nuance.”
Fellow judge Saw Teong Hin commented, “What makes ‘Anak Omputeh’ special is its sincerity – there was no forced perfection, and that allowed its authenticity to shine through. Darwish and his team have demonstrated that great storytelling just needs honest voices and genuine passion. If they can maintain this playful spirit and level-headedness as they develop their craft, I am excited to see how far they will go.”
‘Anak Omputeh’ exemplified the essence of this year’s ‘New Dimensions’ theme, which called upon participants to venture beyond conventional storytelling and explore bold new perspectives. Through its authentic examination of cultural identity, rendered with both humor and emotional depth, the story reflected the same innovative spirit that drives BMW Group Malaysia’s approach to mobility and design.
Darwish’s achievements as both Grand Prize Winner and Best Student Shorties recipient highlight the high level of talent from Malaysia’s schools and creative community, and show the BMW Shorties’ dedication to finding and supporting the country’s future storytellers.
The BMW Shorties 2025 Award Winners are:
Grand Prize Award
Anak Omputeh – Darwish Syahmi
People’s Choice Award
Anak Omputeh – Darwish Syahmi
Best Director Award
Shamalan Nagayai & Wong Zhao Quan for ‘Perfect Family’
Best Actress Award
Kimberly Chuah for ‘Flat No. 4’
Hana Roanne for ‘tragedy of youth.’
Best Actor Award
Dexter Zhen for ‘Perfect Family’
Best Student Shorties Award
Darwish Syahmi for ‘Anak Omputeh’
Best Cinematography Award
Vishnu Attiappan for ‘Sayap’
Best Editing Award
Shamalan Nagayai for ‘Perfect Family’
Best Story Award
Wong Zhao Quan for ‘Perfect Family’
Best Sound Design Award
Teo Wey Yinn for ‘Sayap’
Best Production Design Award
Khor Chin Joe for ‘Kedai Runcit Jiwa’
The Finalists’ digital creative projects can be viewed on the official BMW Shorties’ YouTube page at www.youtube.com/user/bmwshortiesmy. For more information on the BMW Shorties, visit the official BMW Shorties website at www.bmwshorties.com.my.
For the latest updates on future BMW Shorties events, check out the BMW Shorties Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bmwshorties and Instagram page at www.instagram.com/bmwshorties.