Ekta Saran
Six years ago, Ekta Saran transitioned from a creative writer at leading multinational agencies to a storyteller as an independent filmmaker and Commercials director. She immediately garnered recognition for her talent to capture and express compelling human narratives with a unique aesthetic style. Ever since, she has been sought after to convey individual and brand-centric narratives for a range of clientele, including New Balance, Volkswagen, RedBull, Braun, ADNOC, Johnson’s & Johnson’s & more. Her unique ability to mine human stories has made her a goto in the world of cinematic storytelling.
But a theme she has always gone back to in her personal work is identity. As a result of never calling one place a home, she’s always wondered about the idea of belonging somewhere. The result has been 2016’s ‘Chasing Bur Dubai’, 2020’s co-directed endeavour with Danielle Arden ‘Karama 267’; and 2024’s ‘The Laundromat; all projects aiming to show a side of Dubai that is rarely seen on screen.
Karama 267
One of my first personal projects was in 2014. ‘Chasing Bur Dubai’ was born out of a need to tell the stories of Old Dubai, to capture the residents and businesses that have been there for decades. My next project was in 2020, ‘Karama 267’, a short film I co-directed with Danielle Arden about a woman who comes back to Karama, a place she once called home.
Most recently, I wrote & directed a micro short ‘The Laundromat’ for a Trinity workshop that tells the story of an immigrant worker who receives some news while at work. With my personal projects, I am always looking to tell the stories of a Dubai that isn’t shiny, glitzy or luxurious. They are stories about people who have uprooted themselves far from home. My aim is to make films that show the other side of the city that one rarely gets to see on screen.
Most recently, I wrote & directed a micro short ‘The Laundromat’ for a Trinity workshop that tells the story of an immigrant worker who receives some news while at work. With my personal projects, I am always looking to tell the stories of a Dubai that isn’t shiny, glitzy or luxurious. They are stories about people who have uprooted themselves far from home. My aim is to make films that show the other side of the city that one rarely gets to see on screen.
‘Chasing Bur Dubai’ was written extensively about and featured in The National, Campaign magazine and other publications. ‘Karama 267’ was shortlisted at a few short film festivals and beloved by people who once called Karama their home or still live there.
From 2017 to 2019, I was a Sony Ambassador and regularly contributed to speaking engagements such as talks, workshops and presentations.
From 2017 to 2019, I was a Sony Ambassador and regularly contributed to speaking engagements such as talks, workshops and presentations.
The Laundromat