Queer people have always been confined. Their visibility has always been limited to the quiet and privacy of one's own, left to linger in their desires that can't be celebrated in public. The dedication of their narratives through Rainbow Shorts in the 10th year of the QCinema Film Festival presents these issues no longer remaining… Continue reading QCinema 2022: RainbowQC Shorts—Intimate Intensities of the Queer Filipino Experience
With the ongoing pandemic still restricting the film industry, there is a stronger need to give an accessible platform for filmmakers to showcase not only their work but also realities that most people may not easily witness today. Films play a much more vital role during these times; as many of us are still confined… Continue reading Cinemalaya 2021: Main Competition Shorts B — Extending the Short Form to Wider Lengths
The Commitment (Kasal) takes us immediately at the height of the incident. Paolo (Oliver Aquino) gets caught cheating by his partner, Sherwin (Arnold Reyes) and we are left to pick up the pieces alongside them. Throughout the film, we see them working towards rekindling their relationship and moving past this setback. However, following these events… Continue reading ‘The Commitment’: Queer Love as Failure
The archipelagic structure of our country cultivates a sense of displacement as the mainstream favors the metropolis. Communities from other regions are not given the same favorable coverage, with the plight of the indigenous communities often unheard. This has led to most tribes migrating to the city as well, to gain safety and to have… Continue reading Mapping the Displacement of Innocence in ‘Bullet-Laced Dreams’
Breakups in film have always been portrayed as a painful and dramatic experience: the heated exchanges between couples, the tearful parting, and a resolution where they either reconcile or find someone new. Turning to film and seeing these did not provide a lot of comfort and hope when I had to deal with my own… Continue reading On Post Break-Up Films: The Beginnings they Offer After Endings
Holiday romantic comedies in mainstream media have always been made for a heterosexual audience. Naturally, last year’s release of Clea DuVall’s Happiest Season, starring Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis as a lesbian couple, generated both praise and backlash for its portrayal and placement of the LGBT in this genre. LGBT representation in mainstream media has… Continue reading ‘Happiest Season’: On Coming Out with Fresh Narratives for a Queer Audience
In line with the shift towards the new normal through the online space, the Maginhawa Film Festival moves forward through an online streaming service to bring cinema closer to us within the comfort and safety of our homes. With this year's theme of Transition, the festival presents stories that showcase movement in different periods, perspectives,… Continue reading Maginhawa Film Festival: 5 Personal Picks from the Open Category
Sine Liwanag 