Ezekiel found himself spellbound by these stories. Despite this, he never thought he would be able to do more than just listen to them. This changed however, when he discovered filmmaking in high school, and a whole new world was suddenly unlocked for him.
“I realised that film could be my way of preserving these stories, of keeping them alive for future generations. That’s when I decided to take a chance – to turn those memories into something real and bring them to life through film,” Ezekiel, 24, told FMT Lifestyle.
The avid cinephile, who grew up in Melaka’s Portuguese Settlement, now hopes to honour his Kristang heritage through film. His mission is to uplift diverse voices and share stories that resonate with a wide range of communities.
“When I say films, I don’t mean big blockbusters. I mean the kind that makes you reflect on life and how to live it better. That’s what drew me in – the power of stories and the lasting impact a film can have,” Ezekiel said.
He names Hou Hsiao-Hsien, Edward Yang, Andrei Tarkovsky, Abbas Kiarostami, and Krzysztof Kieślowski as the filmmakers who have most changed his perspectives on storytelling.
Ezekiel is currently based in Los Angeles, California: he studied Cinematic Arts & Technology at California State University, and is now an assistant editor at Major Major Creative, an advertising agency specialising in trailers and marketing materials.
He has been involved in campaigns for films such as ‘Mickey 17’ (Warner Bros), ‘Death of a Unicorn’ (A24), and ‘Unstoppable’ (Amazon MGM Studios).
Recently, Ezekiel served as assistant editor, sound designer, and colourist on ‘Qué Es Un Niño?” (What is a Boy?), which was nominated for the Student Academy Award, and selected for several film festivals, including the Academy Award-qualifying Cinequest Film Festival.
He also wrote, directed, edited, and coloured the film “The Distance Between Us” his first time overseeing a full-scale production. The film follows an ageing man who, aware that he only has a few months to live, attempts to gather his family for a final family photo.
In 2021, Ezekiel created “Stories About Our Grandfather”, a film about his grandfather Simon Lazaroo.
Simon served in the Malaysian military in pre-independence times, from the British occupation until the 1970s, and was awarded the Pingat Jasa Malaysia by the Minister of Defence last September.
“I felt it didn’t fully capture my grandfather’s story though, so I’ve been wanting to remake it. I pray and hope he has more time so I can capture more of his memories and document Malaysia’s history through his eyes,” Ezekiel said.
The young filmmaker credits his Portuguese-Eurasian background for immersing him with key values such as persistence, resilience, adaptability, faith, and a deep appreciation for storytelling and cultural traditions. These have guided how he views filmmaking and editing.
Working in the Los Angeles entertainment industry has been challenging, Ezekiel added, due to how fast-paced and competitive it is.
While opportunities did exist, breaking into the field required persistence, the right connections, and a dedication to putting in the work.
Despite this, Los Angeles has been a great place to grow, he said, as one was constantly surrounded by talented and creative professionals.
Ezekiel is currently editing a short film, and will be editing his first feature in the fall of 2025.
“Filmmaking isn’t easy – it’s not for the faint-hearted. But if you’re clear about what you’re getting into, you’ll be ready,” he said.
“I’ve also got a few film ideas that I’d love to shoot in Melaka, specifically at the Portuguese settlement. However, it’ll take some time to make that happen since I’m currently swamped with work. Crossing my fingers I can bring it to life sooner rather than later!”
For more information about Ezekiel Lazaroo, visit his website.