Ekaj

Ekaj
Directed by	Cati Gonzalez
Produced by	Michael Gonzalez; Cati Gonzalez;
Written by	Cati Gonzalez
Starring	Jake Mestre; Badd Idea; Scooter LaForge;
Music by	Paul "Pistachio" Vega
Cinematography	Cati Gonzalez
Edited by	Michael Gonzalez
Production; company	Tompkins Square Park Films
Distributed by	Indie Rights
Release date	January 15, 2017
Running time	79 minutes
Country	United States

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.[1] 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 naïve 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.[2]

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

References

"Interview: Cati Gonzalez talks Ekaj". FilmDoo. March 3, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2018.

External links

Ekaj at IMDb
Ekaj at Rotten Tomatoes

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[1] "Interview: Cati Gonzalez talks Ekaj". FilmDoo. March 3, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2018.