The creative spotlight shines bright this October as the Starlight Institute of Screen and Stage Media was officially launched on October 22, 2025 at Starlight Arena in Plaza 51, Petaling Jaya.
The launch marked 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.
Based at Starlight Arena, Plaza 51, the 10,000 sq ft creative education and production center under the Starlight Screen & Stage Academy, offers professional training in film acting, media performance and production arts, connecting Malaysia’s emerging talent with global industry opportunities.
The event was graced by Starlight chairman Andrew Teok and its managing director Kenny Piong and chief executive officer Aaron Lim, and Chek Hup (M) Sdn Bhd group managing director Joseph Tan.
Along with the institute’s launch, Aaron Lim has also announced the upcoming Malaysian feature film “Bola dan Impian”, a story that follows the inspiring journey of an underdog all-girl Under-18 football team, rising from a small town to the national championship.
Blending high-energy sports drama and heartfelt storytelling, “Bola dan Impian” celebrates courage, teamwork and the dreams of young Malaysians who defy the odds.
The film introduces three new Under-18 rising stars, Seri Nur Adriana Elisa, 18; Lucinda Lew Xin Yee, 16 and Aarhthi Sivenesan, 16, who were discovered through Project Starlight talent development program, and supported by a cast of experienced industry actors.
The shooting for “Bola dan Impian” will take place in Johor from November to December 2025. The film is set to hit the screens on May 2026.
“We’re not just launching an academy – we’re building a bridge between education and professional film production,” said Aaron Lim in his opening remarks.
“This is where young talent gets to train, perform, and ultimately shine on screen.”
Thirty hopefuls were shortlisted from more than 100 submissions during the Project Starlight Audition 2025 which was held last September. From the final shortlist, only three made the cut to be in the lead roles in “Bola dan Impian”.
“Bola dan Impian is a partnership between Starlight Institute and main advertiser and long-time collaborator Chek Hup, in the hopes of promoting new and rising stars to the South East Asian cinema landscape, in conjunction with FIFA 2026,” Aaron Lim said.
Guests, aspiring talents and media partners were taken on a guided tour of the institute’ training facilities and provided insights into the curriculum pathways and upcoming mentorship programs under the Performing for Camera Academy and Screen & Stage Creative Department.
Chek Hup was established in Ipoh, Malaysia in the mid 1900’s, founded by a true coffee enthusiast who merged the local flavoring and culture with freshly roasted premium coffee beans.
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.
The event also witnessed the Memorandum of Understanding signing between Starlight Institute and its strategic education and industry partners, including Falcon TVET University US, Aotu Theatre, Antplus Entertainment, Synergy Media Entertainment and JM Music.
“Bola dan Impian” which is produced by multiple award-winning filmmaker Aaron Lim, is written and directed by experienced commercial and drama director Rayson Ng.
With over 17 years in the film and media industry, Rayson has directed and produced more than 1,500 projects across commercials, documentaries and dramas.
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.
Meanwhile, Aaron Lim is a Malaysian film producer and writer, best known for his work on C144: Human x Nature (2022), a mystery thriller 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, Aaron 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.
