KUANTAN native Ikram Haizammuri is a filmmaker who aspires to tell stories of the underprivileged and highlight the challenges they face in life.
The grand prize winner of filmmaking contest BMW Shorties 2023 is a graduate of Multimedia University, who earned his bachelor's degree in Animation and Visual Effects in 2022, a qualification which provided him a strong foundation for a career in the cinematic arts.
VFX
In a recent interview, Ikram said: "Before participating in the BMW Shorties, I was a member of the visual effects (VFX) team for the celebrated local horror film 'Talbis Iblis' which was released in 2022.
"And in 2023, I created the short film 'All Who Leave Go There' which made waves at the BMW Shorties 2023, earning the Best Director award and winning Grand Prize."
Ikram's new BMW-funded film 'Sometimes Feels Like Summer', which debuted last month, marks a stylistic departure from his usual contemporary approach, and marks his growth into different film styles and creative experimentation.
ACTING
"I'm the eldest of two brothers, and I will be turning 25 by the end of this year. I never thought I'd be a filmmaker until I was about 14. In fact I wanted to be an actor when I was a kid, but then I realised I might not be good-looking or talented enough for it.
"I went to a fully residential school that focused on science but that's where I started figuring out my true passion.
"My friend started introducing me to more serious themed anime at the time, the offbeat stories and the insane visual quality blew me away and shifted my perspectives."
Ikram started making some amateur short films with the help of friends in the evenings. He became a big fan of acclaimed filmmakers Alfonso Cuaron, Park Chan-Wook, Yorgos Lanthimos and Nuri Bilge Ceylan whose films have distinct elements.
"I discovered their films during my university days. It was here that I developed a soft spot for the Mexican New Wave as well as the early 2000s South Korean cinema."
ANIMATION
Ikram's pursuit of animation and visual effects helped him understand the theoretical and technical aspects of film.
"The most important thing as a filmmaker is finding your own distinct way to express your voice and ultimately creating a film that reflects who you are and what it means to others.
"Being a part of BMW Shorties and joining the incredible line-up of past winners gave me the opportunity to hone and explore my creative vision.
"This experience has given me the platform to share my ideas to more people than I could have ever imagined and allowed me to hear insights and have conversations with so many industry veterans," he said.
SELF-DISCOVERY
His new film 'Sometimes Feels Like Summer' delves into the coming-of-age story of a young girl navigating self-discovery in a rural setting, reflecting on the balance between tradition and the complexities of modern youth.
"For this film, I was able to focus more on the technical elements of filmmaking such as camera work, audio work, and editing, delivering a more refined cinematic experience.
"The main issue I've been focusing on in my films lately is exploring how underprivileged communities live and their perspectives on our world.
"Their views are often so different from what we know, and I find it to be an exciting topic that needs deeper exploration," he said.
KUANTAN
The new film was shot in Kuantan in early March, and the production lasted about three days.
"One of the biggest challenges I faced was that this was my first time working in a total, proper production with separate departments.
"Compared to my previous way of shooting, this recent project felt more structured, like a proper production.
"In the past, I usually worked in a run-and-gun style, guerilla filmmaking, which made things feel like a breeze and gave me more room to experiment and improvise," he said.
OPEN
Ikram hopes that the local film industry can become more diverse and open to different types of films, giving independent filmmakers a chance to go mainstream instead of just focusing on entertainment.
"It would be great to see different styles and genres infused into what we have now.
"The main hurdle for filmmakers is finding the courage and ambition to create something fresh, whether it's in the storytelling or the presentation.
"Most of the time, my ideas and inspiration come out of nowhere, and they usually relate to what I'm currently exploring.
"If I start getting into something new, there's a good chance I'd make a film about it."
Ikram enjoys creating films about things happening around him, something he is familiar with, and something close to his heart.
"For now, I think focusing on short films is the best way to keep improving my craft and learning more about filmmaking.
"My style might be unconventional, but I've chosen this path, and even though the road ahead might be full of blood and tears, I need to endure it, so I won't have any regrets," he said.