The Oscar qualified documentary short film "Ink and Gold: An Artist’s Journey to Olympic Glory" 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. It has been Official Selection at 84 Film Festivals since the beginning of 2023, receiving 72 awards to date including 42 Best Documentary Short Awards.
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 thing 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.