Kuala Lumpur, 8 December 2025 – In a landmark moment for its 19th edition, the BMW Shorties programme officially announced its newest Grand Prize Winner – ‘Anak Omputeh‘ by Darwish Syahmi from Multimedia University Cyberjaya (MMU). 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 significant milestone for student filmmaking and digital content creation in Malaysia.
Finding himself a fish out of water in this unfamiliar traditional setting, Lan struggles to connect with the local boys and navigate a culture that feels foreign to him. Through a series of comedic and heartwarming adventures, he finds himself slowly growing fond of both the kampung life and his peers. The story explores the experience of ‘Third Culture Kids’ with authenticity and fun, capturing the reality of cultural reintegration while celebrating the universal bonds of friendship and belonging.
‘Anak Omputeh’ also won the hearts of the wider BMW Shorties community, earning them the celebrated People’s Choice Award after weeks of public voting came to an end.
A Young Talent with a Growing Portfolio
At just 20 years old, Darwish Syahmi entered the BMW Shorties with an impressive creative foundation. Hailing from MMU Cyberjaya’s Faculty of Cinematic Arts, Darwish developed a specialty for weaving comedic irony with hard-hitting reality, which he had honed from a very young age. His earlier works include:
- Kintsugi (2024) – First Runner-Up at Echo Film Fest: The Sequel
- Kapak (2023) – Nominated at the 20th Mini Film Festival, Sarawak
- FORYOU32GODSAVEOURCHILDREN (2023) – Experimental film nominated at Taylor’s University Film Festival 2024
Looking to the future, Darwish has one clear goal in mind – to make his mark in Malaysian cinema through writing and directing 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.”
Awards and Recognition
Darwish Syahmi was awarded RM50,000 as part of a production grant to bring his next project to life. In addition to the production grant, Darwish also received the latest OPPO Find X9 Pro, courtesy of OPPO Malaysia, allowing him to continue creating visually striking digital content with their newest cutting-edge mobile technology.
- Filmmaker and documentarian Zan Azlee (The Life & Times of an Islamic Insurgency)
- Distinguished veteran actress and writer Fatimah Abu Bakar (Tiger Stripes, Imaginur)
- Celebrated auteur Nadiah Hamzah (Motif)
- Internationally acclaimed director Saw Teong Hin (Puteri Gunung Ledang, You Mean The World To Me)
- Pioneering voice in Malaysian Tamil cinema Ts. Dr. Vimala Perumal (Vedigundu Pasangge, Tamiletchumy)
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.
BMW Shorties 2025 Award Winners
- 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.
