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Ekaj
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Wikipedia article
'Ekaj' is a 2015 American independent drama film written and directed by Cati Gonzalez, starring Jake Mestre, Badd Idea, and Scooter LaForge. The film made its New York City premiere at the 5th Annual International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival.
Gonzalez intended for 'Ekaj' to be a work in the vein of 'Midnight Cowboy', but with a focus on New York's Puerto Rican drifters. The film screened at several Film Festivals which include, LesGaiCineMad, Palm Beach International Film Festival, Q Fest St. Louis / St. Louis International Film Festival, QCinema Fort Worth, Downtown Urban Arts Festival, NewFilmmakers NY, SF Latino Film Festival Cine+Mas, International Film Festival, Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema, Macabre Faire Film Festival, Human Rights Film Festival Barcelona and other festivals worldwide.
Plot
'Ekaj' is a nave runaway teen who tries to survive in New York City. He meets "Mecca" (Badd Idea), a cynical artist and hustler who takes Ekaj under his care. Mecca stays at his cousins place and we get glimpses of the fact that he has AIDS, since he has tattoos with the word written on his body. He drinks all day but still manages to be sane and sharp. He's also an opportunistic thief. Ekaj decides to go into prostitution out of desperation. Mecca becomes ill, as his medication does not really seem to be working for him. At the same time we see Ekaj becoming stronger and less vulnerable. He ends up falling in love with a painter named "Johnny" (Scooter LaForge) who has no tolerance and is constantly beating him. Johnny seems indifferent and cold towards Ekaj's desperate love and obsession for him. With no place to really sleep, Ekaj stays during the day with Mecca at his cousin's place, at Johnny's place, or at times staying in hotel rooms paid by coins (clients). Their relationship develops into true love and care for each other.
Cast
* Jake Mestre
* Badd Idea
* Scooter LaForge
* Vinny Cruz
* Mario Piantini
* Carlos Anaya
* Prince Franco
* Joey Lopez
* Johnny King
* Maximilian France
* William Lynn
* Nita Aviance
* Clifton Brown Jr.
* Gage of the Boone
* Rashid Henderson
* Superok Gachineiro
* Giovanie Paz
Reception
The film had a very successful Film Festival run in the year 2016. It won its first award for "Best Film" at the 2016 NY Downtown Urban Arts Festival in Tribeca, New York City, where it was well received by a sold-out audience. 'Ekaj' ended up becoming a hit at festivals and continued to screen worldwide from the years 2017, 2018 until early January 2019 when it had its most recent screening at the Dona i Cinema (Women in Film) Festival in Valencia, Spain. The overall response to the film since being released online via Video on Demand by distributor Indie Rights has been largely positive.
'Ekaj' currently holds a 100% critic approval rating on the online review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes based on 16 reviews.
Accolades
* 2016 NY Downtown Urban Arts Film Festival Best Film
* 2016 Philadelphia Independent Film Festival Best Film, Best New-Director, Best Actor
* 2016 Pembroke Taparelli Arts and Film Festival Best Film
* 2016 QCinema Fort Worth Film Festival Best First Film
* 2016 I Filmmaker International Film Festival, Spain Special Mention
* 2017 Macabre Faire Film Festival Best Director
* 2017 Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema Best Cinematography
* 2017 Trans* Film Festival Kiel, Germany Best Film, Best Actor, Best Music Soundtrack
* 2017 Premios Latino, Spain Best Film, Best Cinematography
* 2017 Boom Film Awards, USA Best Film, Best Supporting Actor
* 2017 Festival de Cine de Marbella, Spain Best Film (Blogos de Oro Critics Award), Best Director
* 2017 Nuevo Cine Andaluz de Casares, Spain Best Director
* 2017 Mediterranean Film Festival Cannes, France Special Mention
* 2017 Amarcord Chicago Arthouse & TV Video Awards, USA Best Screenplay
* 2018 Ibiza Cine Fest, Spain Best Film
* 2018 Global Motion Picture Awards, USA Best Film, Best Editing
* 2018 Sicily International Film Festival, Italy Best Film
* 2018 Hudson Yard Film Festival, USA Best Film, Best Director
* 2016 Newark International Film Festival, USA Best Director, Best Actor Nominated
* 2016 International Film Festival Manhattan, USA Best Actor Nominated
* 2016 Chicago BLOW-UP ArtHouse Film Festival, USA Best Film Nominated
* 2017 Macabre Faire Film Festival, USA Nominations (5)
* 2016 I Filmmaker International Film Festival, Spain Best Film Nominated
* 2017 2017 Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema Nominated (7)
* 2017 Trans* Film Festival Kiel, Germany Best Song, Best Poster Nominated
* 2017 Alternative Film Festival, Toronto, Canada Best Poster Nominated
Further reading
* "Director hopes to shine light on struggles of homeless lgbt kids in NYC" [https://web.archive.org/web/20190525163448/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20151029/greenwich-village/director-hopes-shine-light-on-struggles-of-homeless-lgbt-kids-nyc/ DNAinfo]
* "A groundbreaking expos of the issues homeless LGBTQ youth face, beautifully told through masterful story crafting" [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-c-frank/ekaj-more-than-a-movie_b_9614230.html Huffington Post]
* "Film Programmers Top 5 Latino Movies of 2016"] [http://remezcla.com/lists/film/film-programmers-top-5-latino-movies-2016/ Remezcla]
* "A Saipan Filmmakers Perspective GIFF 2016" [http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/91179-a-saipan-filmmaker-s-perspective-giff-2016-2 Marianna's Variety]
* "6th Guam Intl. Film Festival Kicks off" [https://www.postguam.com/sunday_post/th-guam-international-film-festival-kicks-off/article_9d5acdd8-abeb-11e6-b05d-bbd55ffda806.html The Guam Post]
* "EKAJ: A Sweet Film That Proves To Be Teflon-Tough" [http://www.aumag.org/2016/12/04/ekaj-a-sweet-film-that-proves-to-be-teflon-tough/ A&U Magazine]
* "The Women's Texas Film Festival Returns in August" [https://www.dmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/2017/07/women-texas-film-festival-dallas/ D Magazine]
* "Festival Puts Focus on Films by Women" [https://www.pressreader.com/ The Dallas Morning News]
* "Sex Workers Define Themselves in Long Running Arts and Cultural Festival" [https://www.prweb.com/releases/sexworkerfest/2017/prweb14339619.htm/ PR Web]
* "Lights! Camera! QFest!" [http://www.boom.lgbt/index.php/art-enter/144-a-e/876-lights-camera-qfest/ BOOM]
* "CinePalium Fest, quarto giorno dedicato al grande cinema" [https://www.dabitonto.com/cultura-e-spettacolo/cinepalium-fest-quarto-giorno-dedicato-al-grande-cinema.htm/ daBitonto]
* "CinePalium Fest, il programma completo" [https://www.palolive.it/news/cultura/616513/cinepalium-fest-il-programma-completo/ PaloLive.it]
* "Palo del Colle e il cinema internazionale: il programma completo del Cinepalium fest" [https://www.palodelcolle.net/magazine/palo-del-colle-e-il-cinema-internazionale-il-programma-completo-del-cinepalium-fest/ Pale del Colle]
* "Criticas De Kater, Ekaj..." [http://www.dosmanzanas.com/2016/11/21o-lesgaicinemad-i-criticas-de-kater-ekaj-people-you-may-know-uio-salvaje-despertar-awol-women-who-kill-y-jesus.html Dos Manzanas]
* "El Festival de Cinema i Drets Humans denuncia las injusticias en el mundo" [https://www.elperiodico.com/es/ocio-y-cultura/20181119/que-hacer-hoy-barcelona-lunes-19-noviembre-2018-7151860/ El Peridico]
* "Lo que no te puedes perder de la Bienal Internacional Dona i Cinema" [https://valenciaplaza.com/lo-que-no-te-puedes-perder-de-la-bienal-internacional-dona-i-cinema/ Valencia Plaza]
* "4 Festival de cine y televisin Reino de Len" [http://www.leoncultural.com/evento/4o-festival-cine-television-reino-leon-sabado-6-mayo/ Len Cultural]
* "Festival Cine y TV Reino de Len selecciona 94 trabajos de 700 presentados" [https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20170426/422071374292/festival-cine-y-tv-reino-de-leon-selecciona-94-trabajos-de-700-presentados.html/ La Vanguardia]
* "El Festival Nuevo Cine Andaluz de Casares premia a la pelcula "Fogueo" y a la directora Cati Gonzlez" [https://esteponapress.com/el-festival-nuevo-cine-andaluz-de-casares-premia-a-la-pelicula-fogueo-y-a-la-directora-cati-gonzalez/ Estepona Press]
* "El certamen de la localidad malaguea de Casares otorga galardones a "Ekaj", "Samba. Un nombre borrado", "Omega" y "Resort Paraso" [https://www.fundacionava.org/?section=noticias&action=ficha&contentid=32610/ Fundacin Audiovisual de Andaluca]
* "El IbizaCineFest no quiere ser glamuroso sino alternativo" [https://ocio.diariodeibiza.es/agenda/noticias/nws-637270-el-ibizacinefest-quiere-ser-glamuroso-sino-alternativo.html/ Diario de Ibiza]
* "21 pases muestran su diversidad en festival de cine gay" [https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/cultura/1/21-paises-muestran-su-diversidad-en-festival-de-cine-gay/ El Telgrafo]
* "Festival Marbella estrenar cinta de Depardieu y premiar a Carlos Bardem" [https://www.lavanguardia.com/local/sevilla/20170609/423283975517/festival-marbella-estrenara-cinta-de-depardieu-y-premiara-a-carlos-bardem.html/ La Vanguardia]
* "Festival Marbella estrenar cinta de Depardieu y premiar a Carlos Bardem" [https://www.diariosur.es/agencias/andalucia/201706/09/festival-marbella-estrenara-cinta-985172.html/ Diario SUR]
* "Cinco peras primas competirn en la Seccin Oficial del Festival de Cine de Marbella" [https://www.latribunahoy.com/37527/ La Tribuna Hoy Andaluca]
* "El Festival de Cine de Marbella extiende la alfombra roja en Puerto Bans" [https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/marbella/2017/06/16/festival-cine-marbella-extiende-alfombra/938179.html/ La Opinion de Mlaga]
* "Marbella potencia su promocin turstica con un festival de cine" [https://agromagazine.es/marbella-potencia-promocion-turistica-festival-cine/ Agro Magazine]
* "Certmenes: Premio para "Vico C" en Puerto Rico, "Alba"y "Quijotes Negros" en Ecuador y "Anomalous" en Espaa" [http://noticine.com/festivales/26092-certamenes-premio-para-vico-c-en-puerto-rico-alba-y-quijotes-negros-en-ecuador-y-anomalous-en-espana.html/ NotiCine]
* "El Festival de Cine de Marbella levanta el teln arropado por el pblico y la industria" [https://www.malagahoy.es/ocio/Festival-Cine-Marbella-arropado-industria_0_1146185614.html/ Mlaga Hoy]
* "La hostelera local y los centros escolares se vuelcan con la quinta edicin de Santurzine" [https://www.elcorreo.com/bizkaia/margen-izquierda/hosteleria-local-centros-20170906190525-nt.html/ El Correo]
* "Cineteca Zacatecas: estrenos" [https://zacatecasonline.com.mx/que-hacer/58742-cineteca-en-mayo/ Zacateca Online]
* "6 Thessaloniki Pride" [https://www.thesout.gr/49219/6o-thessaloniki-pride/ ThessOut]
* "It's reminiscent of an early film by the Safdie brothers but still manages to create its own place among the subgenre" [http://filmthreat.com/reviews/ekaj/ Film Threat]
* "EKAJ: A Young Story That Needs to Grow" [https://www.filminquiry.com/ekaj-2015-review/ Film Inquiry]
* "A film that has the potential to make the unaware, aware" [http://thevoiceoflondon.co.uk/ekaj-a-film-highlighting-key-issues-amongst-lgbt-youth/ The Voice of London]
* "Gonzalez's aesthetic falls between Larry Clark and Gus Van Sant" [http://www.thestateofthearts.co.uk/features/nogloss-festival-2016/ State of The Arts]
* "An important, UNMISSABLE film, for fans of Larry Clark's "Kids" and much more raw-er than Sean Baker's "Tangerine" [http://www.noglossfilmfestival.co.uk/interview-2016-catalina-gonzalez/ No Gloss Film Festival]
References
Buy Ekaj now from Amazon
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