Ekin Kee Charles produces a film captivating the universal theme of beauty on the unique cultural backdrop of her home, Sabah.
Titled RAMA RAMA, it tells the coming-of-age story of a little girl in a small village in Sabah, as it grapples with the notion of conventional beauty from a perspective of innocence. The film challenges viewers to contemplate on the standards that dictate beauty and how it permeates throughout every rung of society and culture.
The intricately-designed scenes and remarkable acting by Ekin’s diverse cast of everyday people, come together to give life to her masterful storytelling on screen, amplifying the message that she has set out to convey – seen even in her winning short film, PACE.
Ekin shared, “As a filmmaker, I believe that short films are a medium to approach timely issues surrounding us, especially perspectives that may sometimes get lost in general debate and discourse.”
The premiere of ‘RAMA RAMA’ was held in conjunction with the BMW Shorties & Chill, the First-Ever BMW Shorties Digital Premiere. The virtual event, which was also screened live on-ground with strict adherence to standard operating procedures, featured a day of music performances, activities with the BMW Shorties alumni, a panel discussion, and the highly-anticipated premiere of RAMA RAMA itself.
The BMW Shorties will return this year with the theme, CHARGE – as it continues to encourage local talents to charge boldly into 2021 after all the circumstances presented last year. The reopening of submissions will be announced soon, and participants from 2020 are allowed to resubmit their short films if necessary. Those who missed the 2020 submission deadline may also submit their entries later this year.
Pictures by Ekin Kee Charles