QUESTION#1 Can you describe your film in one sentence?

The film explores my personal journey as an artist, recounting my experience of winning the Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic Games medal design competition and realising a lifelong aspiration to showcase my performance art at the opening ceremonies.

QUESTION#2 What would you like the BSFF audience to know about your film that they wouldn't consider from it's title?

'Ink and Gold: An Artist’s Journey to Olympic Glory’ creates a narrative that aims to showcase the connection between art and sport. This intersection becomes a powerful force, fostering unity among individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds, transcending language barriers, and creating mutual understanding and respect. The film also challenges the notion that individuals must choose between pursuing artistic or athletic endeavours.

QUESTION#3: Can you tell us about yourself and your filmmaking career?
I have had quite an unconventional upbringing as the child of international teachers. These experiences have influenced me personally and artistically, and are reflected in the story, art work and design work of the film. My Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic Games winning medal design, entitled "Beauty in Diversity," was inspired by Maya Angelou’s quote ‘in diversity there is beauty and there is strength’. Dr. Angelou worked to educate others on the importance of valuing human diversity, a sentiment that strongly resonates within me after being welcomed into a mosaic of cultures from New Zealand, Kuwait, Viet Nam, England, Bangladesh, and China throughout my childhood.

My film journey began on my seventh birthday when my grandfather gave me my first film camera. At that age, I would document the many tree huts that I would create in my large back yard in New Zealand. In my teens, I made films capturing my street art adventures around the metropolis of Shanghai. As a young adult, I returned to New Zealand to study Creative Media Production at Massey University. During my studies, I worked on Zonta Ignite, a short documentary offering insight into the lives of five members of Zonta International's Wellington Club, an international women's organisation, which through service and advocacy empowers women worldwide. I also exhibited the short film Malformation Capital as part of the inaugural 2018 Asian Aotearoa Arts Hui, a national public festival that celebrates diverse expressions of 'Asianness' in New Zealand in the Arts.

QUESTION#4: What have you learned in the process of making your film?

In the process of writing and directing my first documentary, I experienced a very steep learning curve and gained invaluable insights. I collaborated with an exceptionally talented, culturally and gender diverse production team, including an American producer who mentored me throughout the project, a colour grader and a sound mixer from New Zealand, a South African musician, and a cinematographer from India. This experience illuminated that filmmaking truly requires the collective strength of a ‘team’.

QUESTION#5: What's does the future hold for this film and you?

Time will tell what the future holds for our small New Zealand project, but we are humbled by the journey so far and how it has been received around the world. Since the start of 2023, we have obtained Oscar Qualification as well as chosen as an Official Selection at 75 Film Festivals, winning 68 awards including 41 Best Film Awards. We have also developed a spin-off series and are currently pitching to finance and partner production companies.

As for me personally, I hope to continue developing skills as an artist and filmmaker, creating more art that has a positive impact in the world.