"BOLA DAN IMPIAN': A MAJOR PRODUCTION BY STARLIGHT INSTITUTE WITH GLOBAL AMBITION!

THE Malaysian screen industry celebrated a double milestone today (22nd October 2025) as the Starlight Institute of Screen and Stage Media officially launched, instantly confirming its commitment to practical training with the announcement of its inaugural feature film, the highly-anticipated sports drama, “Bola dan Impian”(Ball and Dreams).

This launch marks a significant milestone for Malaysia’s next generation of filmmakers, performers, and storytellers — introducing a new creative education hub designed to bridge industry training with real-world production experience.

Guests, aspiring talents, and media partners got an exclusive look into the institute’s training facilities, curriculum pathways, and upcoming mentorship programs under the Performing for Camera Academy and Screen & Stage Creative Department.

The highlight of the day was the announcement of the upcoming Malaysian feature film  “Bola dan Impian”, a high-stakes story following an underdog all-girl Under-18 football team's inspiring journey from a small town to the national championship, is set to be a significant production with an estimated budget of RM3 million. 

The production is slated to involve a massive team, with more than 200 cast and crew members coming together to blend high-energy sports drama with heartfelt storytelling. 

Adding to the buzz, the film’s producers confirmed that a prominent artist is slated to make a special appearance, with their identity to be revealed once shooting commences next month.

FROM left: Lucinda, Adriana and Aarhthi, three new young talents as main cast.

“Bola dan Impian” will proudly introduce three rising stars—18-year-old Seri Nur Adriana Elisa and 16-year-olds Lucinda Lew Xin Yee and Aarhthi Sivenesan—who were discovered through the institute’s own talent development program, Project Starlight. 

The trio were the final three selected for lead roles from a final shortlist of 30 hopefuls, following an audition process that saw over 100 submissions in September. The new talents will be supported by a cast of experienced industry actors.

“We’re not just launching an academy — we’re building a bridge between education and professional film production,” said Aaron Lim, the CEO of Starlight Institute and producer of Bola dan Impian, in his opening address during the launch.

Among the VIP guests who graced the event were Andrew Teok, Chairman of Starlight, Kenny Piong and Joseph Tan, Group Managing Director of Chek Hup (M) Sdn Bhd.

“This is where young talent gets to train, perform, and ultimately shine on screen,”  added Aaron Lim.

The film is a partnership between the Starlight Institute and long-time collaborators Chek Hup, in the hopes of promoting new and rising stars to the South East Asian cinema landscape in conjunction with FIFA 2026. 

FROM Left: Joseph Tan and Aaron Lim.

As a symbolic gesture, a jersey signing ceremony was conducted by Aaron Lim and Joseph Tan, to celebrate the collaboration between Bola dan Impian and Chek Hup.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing was also conducted between Starlight Institute and its strategic education and industry partners:

Falcon TVET University US represented by APAC CEO Calvin Chong.

Aotu Theatre represented by Director Noel Neoh.

Antplus Entertainment represented by Director Ash Lu.

Synergy Media Entertainment represented by Yvonne Lee

JM Music represented by Michael Kek

The production will be helmed by award-winning producer Aaron Lim, who is best known for his work on the mystery thriller C144: Human x Nature (2022), inspired by the discovery of a World War II aircraft crash site.

The film received international acclaim, winning Best Writer (Alternative Film Festival, Canada) and Best Feature Film (Eastern Europe Film Festival). 

Beyond filmmaking, Lim is dedicated to talent development, mentoring aspiring creatives and launching initiatives to nurture the next generation of filmmakers and performers. A long-time filmmaking advocate and educator, Lim is also the creator of the Starlight Institute of Screen and Stage Media.

Directing the film is experienced commercial and drama director Rayson Ng, who will be marking his feature film debut. With over 17 years in the film and media industry and a portfolio of over 1,500 projects,

He has collaborated with leading brands such as Hong Leong Bank, Medico, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). 

Rayson who is extremely passionate about storytelling, visual innovation, and empowering young talents in the film and sports industry, is the founder of Seed Entertainment and Brain Your Brand Sdn Bhd. 

He has developed large-scale campaigns such as KPDN ReDI Digital Payment Campaign, AFC “Beyond the Field” referee documentary series, and ALOF Foundation corporate video, and led creative teams from concept to execution, managing budgets, timelines, and stakeholder communication.

He is a specialist in sports-related productions, including international football tournaments and promotional films. Bola dan Impian will be his very first full-length feature film.

Filming for "Bola dan Impian" is scheduled to take place on location in Johore from November to December 2025, with an expected theatrical release in May 2025, not only in Malaysia but globally beyond 30 countries.

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