ABOUT
The Oscar qualified documentary short film ‘Ink and Gold: An Artist’s Journey to Olympic Glory’ is a short form documentary that follows the journey of New Zealand artist and athlete, Zakea Page, winning the Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic Games medal design competition and fulfilling a lifelong dream to perform at the opening ceremonies. Mr. Page's debut film has been an Official Selection at 87 Film Festivals in 44 different countries, receiving 79 awards to date including 46 Best Film Awards, including the FICTS Award for the ‘Olympic Storytellers’ section at the SPORT MOVIES & TV 2023 - 40th Milano International FICTS Fest in Milan, Italy.
The film was shot over the course of one week in Lausanne, Switzerland, at the 2020 Youth Olympic Games and weaved together with self-taped footage of Zakea’s younger years as an athlete and artist. Accompanied with interviews of his family, ‘Ink and Gold’ highlights the connection between art and sport in bringing together peoples of diverse cultures and backgrounds to bridge barriers of language and foster connections, mutual understanding, and respect for one another. It also aims to dismantle the requirements of young people to choose between the two.
The story, artwork and design work in the film are a reflection of Mr. Page’s non-traditional upbringing as the child of international teachers and the many different cultures and experiences he was exposed to in New Zealand, Kuwait, Viet Nam, England, Bangladesh and China. These experiences are the foundation for his medal design, entitled “Beauty in Diversity”, to embody the Olympic celebration of respect, friendship and excellence, honouring every athlete's (and in this case, artist’s) journey to the Games.
Throughout his childhood, the ideals of the Olympic movement inspired Zakea. The film beautifully encapsulates the initiative of Pierre de Coubertin to combine muscles and mind. Known as the father of the modern Olympic Games, de Coubertin believed that athletic competition promotes understanding across cultures to better demonstrate the spirit of sportsmanship which properly considers fairness, ethics, respect and a sense of fellowship.
“THE IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE IS NOT THE TRIUMPH BUT THE STRUGGLE, THE ESSENTIAL THINGS IS NOT TO HAVE CONQUERED BUT TO HAVE FOUGHT WELL." - Pierre de Coubertin
This idea of the importance in ‘the struggle to overcome’ was further cemented when Zakea discovered the works of American poet and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou, who worked to educate others on the importance of valuing human diversity. This focus made it all the more important for Mr. Page to surround himself with the diverse, inclusive and multicultural production team from New Zealand, England, India and America.
A poetic and uplifting portrait of a young man looking for connection with humanity combining art and sport in expressive form, Ink and Gold is filled with hope and the limitless possibility of tomorrow.
TRAILER
POSTER
Official Film Poster
“This filmmaker is so young and so lucky to do something incredible like this…inspirational… really a fascinating story.” - Matthew Harvey
VISION
A message from the Director
As a child, it was always a dream of mine to win an Olympic medal. Designing the medals and performing at the 2020 Lausanne Youth Olympic Games was both a humbling and invaluable experience in which I realised the value of risk-taking, rising to meet a challenge, and taking part in the Games.
It is my belief that sport and art require a strong drive for excellence, dedication, and detail. Having traveled around the world, I witnessed how art and sport both bring together communities and people of diverse backgrounds. Artistry and competition bridge barriers of language and foster connections, mutual understanding, and respect for one another.
Drawing synergy from both art and sport, my performance at the Opening Ceremony was a statement against the stereotypical art vs sports dichotomy that New Zealand youth are very often forced into.
The documentary highlights the connection between art and sport to demonstrate that investing in both is culturally beneficial for New Zealand, the world of sport, and humanity. It is an opportunity to share what I learned and experienced - a reflection on my individual Olympic journey and the fact that we are all multi-faceted beings. It is my hope that the audience develops a deeper understanding of the beliefs and values that went into my performance - values that align with the Olympic movement which I take pride in as an artist, an athlete, and a New Zealander:
Innovation, creativity, and an appreciation for beauty in diversity.
Awards
2023 Film Festival Official Selection & Awards
87 Official Selections with 79 Awards (including 46 Best Film Awards)
• 4theatre selection (Italy) - Best Documentary Short Award
• Accolade Global Film Competition (CA, USA) - Best Documentary Short & Best Editing Awards
• All That Moves International Film Festival (Brazil) - Best Documentary Short Finalist
• Arte Non Stop Film Festival (Argentina) - Best Documentary Short & Golden Special Recognition to the Artist Awards
• Bangladesh International Short and Independent Film Festival, 2024 (Bangladesh) - Official Selection
• Bahia Independent Cinema Festival (Brazil) - Official Selection
• BCN Sports Film - Barcelona International FICTS Festival (Spain) - Official Selection
• Beausoleil Côte d'Azur International FICTS Festival du Cinéma Sportif (France) - Official Selection
• Best Shorts Competition (CA, USA) - Best Documentary Short, Best Director & Best Editor Awards
• Boden International Film Festival (Sweden) - Best Documentary Short Semifinalist
• Borrego Springs Film Festival (CA, USA) - Official Selection
• Budva International FICTS Festival 2024 (Montenegro) - Official Selection
• Cambodia Film Festival (Cambodia) - Official Selection
• Canadian Sport Film Festival (Canada) - 'Honourable Mention' Best Documentary Short
• Cannes Continental Film Festival (France) - Official Selection
• Daegu International Film Festival (Republic of Korea) - Best Documentary Short Award
• Dilmun International Film Festival (Bahrain) - Best Documentary Short & Best Poster Awards
• Doha Independent Film Festival (Qatar) - Best Documentary Short Award
• Ekurhuleni International Film Festival-EIFF 23 (South Africa) - Best Documentary Short Nominee
• Emiratis Film Festival (Oman) - Official Selection
• Festival Internacional Cine de América / FICAH (Mexico) - Official Selection
• FICLAPAZ - La Paz International Film Festival (Plurinational State of Bolivia) - Official Selection
• FICMARC - Caribbean Sea International Film Festival (Venezuela, Bahamas) - Official Selection
• FilmHaus (Germany) - Best Documentary Short Semifinalist
• Film in Focus (Romania) - Best Documentary Short Nominee
• Filmocracy Oscar Qualifying Program (Los Angeles, CA) - Selected Film for Presentation
• First-Time Filmmaker Sessions - by Lift-Off Global Network (UK) - Official Selection
• Global Youth Film Festival Bangladesh (Bangladesh) - Official Selection
• Golden Nugget International Film Festival (London, UK) - Best Documentary Short Award
• Gulf Tiger International Film Festival (United Arab Emirates) - Best Documentary Short Award
• Gwangju International Film Festival (Republic of Korea) - Best Documentary Short Award
• Havelock International Film Festival (India) - Best Documentary Short, Best Director, Best Editor &
Best Producer Awards
• The Impact DOCS Awards (CA, USA) - Best Documentary Short, Best Director & Best Editor Awards
• IndieFEST Film Awards (CA, USA) - Best Documentary Short and Best Editing Awards
• Indo French International Film Festival (India) - Best Documentary Short Award
• Indo Nepal International Film Festival (Nepal) - Best Documentary Short Award
• Indo Singapore International Film Festival (India) - Best Documentary Short, Best Editor & Best Concept Awards
• International Film Festival Belgium (Belgium) - Best Documentary Short Award
• International Film Fest Germany (Germany) - Official Selection
• International Moving Film Festival (Iran, Islamic Republic of) - Best Documentary Short Semifinalist
• International Online Web Fest (Italy) - Best Documentary Short, Best Young Director & Best Original Song Awards,
as well as Nominee for Best Editor, Best Cinematographer & Best Sound Design Awards
• International World Film Awards (Slovakia & UK) - Official Selection
• Kenya International Sports Film Festival (Kenya) - Official Selection & High Commendation Film Award
• Kurdistan International Independent Film Festival (Iraq) - Best Documentary Short Award
• Lift-Off Filmmaker Sessions Hosted by @LiftOffGobalNetwork (Iraq) - Official Selection
• Lion city International Film Festival (Singapore) - Best Documentary Short Award
• Liverpool Indie Awards // LIA (UK) - Official Selection
• Louisville's International Festival of Film (KY, USA) - Best Sport Film Award
• Lonely Wolf International Film Festival (UK) - Best Documentary Short Quarterfinalist
• M&R Pictures Awards (Iraq) - Official Selection
• Mabig Film Festival (Bavaria, Germany) - Best Documentary Short Award
• Maracay International Film & Video Festival (Venezuela) - Best Documentary Short Award
• Mojo International Film Festival (CA, USA) - Best Documentary Short Award
• Murukas International Film Festival (Peru) - Best Documentary Short Award
• Muscat International Film Festival (Oman) - Best Documentary Short Award
• Muzzle Film Festival (Iraq) - Official Selection
• Nagano FICTS International Film Festival (Japan) - 'Mention d’honneur' Best Film Award
• Nitiin International Film Festival (Malaysia) - 'Audience Choice' Best Documentary Short Award
• NZ Independent Film Festival (New Zealand) - Best New Zealand Short and Audience Choice Awards
• NZ Web Fest (New Zealand) - Best Documentary Short Award & Best Director Nominee
• Osaka International Film Festival (Japan) - Official Selection
• Paris Short Film Festival (France) - Official Selection
• PlanetCinema (Spain) - Best Documentary Cinematography Nominee and Finalist
• Poombukar Independent Film Festival (India) - Best Documentary Short Award
• Qatar Indie Film Festival (Qatar) - ‘Critics Choice’ Best Documentary Short Award
• Rohip International Film Festival (India) - ‘Special Mention’ Best Documentary Short Award
• San Antonio Independent Film Festival (Ecuador) - Best Documentary Short Award
• Santa Dev International Film Festival (India) - Best Documentary Short & Best Editing Awards
• Santiago Festival De Cine Del Mundo (Chile) - Official Selection
• Saudi Arabia International Film Festival (Saudi Arabia) - Best Documentary Short Award
• SENSEI FilmFest (Japan) - Best Documentary Short Nominee
• Serbest International Film Festival (Republic of Moldova) - Best Documentary Short Semifinalist
• Short Shot Fest (Russia) - Official Selection
• South Pacific Film Festival (New Zealand) - Best Editing Award & Quarterfinalist Winner for Best NZ Short
• SPORT MOVIES & TV 2023 - 41st Milano International FICTS Fest (Italy) - FICTS 'Olympic Storytellers' Best Film Award
• Sportfilm Liberec (Czech Republic) - Best Documentary Short Finalist
• Stockholm City Film Festival (Sweden) - Official Selection
• Suwon-Si International Film Festival (Republic of Korea) - Best Documentary Short Award
• SydFest Independent Film Festival (Australia) - Official Selection
• Sydney World Fest 2023-2024 (Republic of Korea) - Best Documentary Short Award
• Tekka International Film Festival (Singapore) - Best Documentary Short Award
• Tylos International Film Festival (Bahrain) - Best Documentary Short Award
• Universal Movie Awards (Nigeria) - Best Documentary Short Nominee
• Valparaiso Amateur Film Festival (Chile) - Special Mention Award for Excellent Documentary
• Vision Feast Film Festival (New Zealand) - Best Documentary Short Nominee
• Wings1929 International Film Festival (Malaysia) - Best Documentary Short & Best Directing Awards
• Wisdom Tree International Film Festival (India) - Official Selection
“I’m so glad that good things have been happening for Ink and Gold, it's a wonderful film… such a great short!” - Alex Jordan
— Paris Short Film Festival
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