In commemoration of the Philippine Independence Day this month, a diverse collection of critically-acclaimed short and full-length films on the self-determination and sovereignty of the country are screening for free on Wednesdays of June.
Starred by the late award-winning actor and “King of Comedy” Dolphy, Markova: Comfort Gay (2000) is a historical comedy-drama that narrates the life of Walter Dempster Jr., also known as Walterina Markova, the last surviving Filipino “comfort gay”. Written by Clodualdo Del Mundo Jr. and directed by Gil M. Portes, the 97-minute biopic bares the hardships faced by the cross-dressing entertainers in the hands of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. The film was on view on June 8.
In A Rustling of Leaves: Inside the Philippine Revolution (1988), award-winning Canadian filmmaker Nettie Wild investigates the realities and revolt within the Philippine political landscape that persists through different periods and administrations. The 112-minute documentary chronicles the three points of the political triangle. It was shown on June 15.
Created by Filipino film director, producer, and educator Mark Meily, Sentry (1988) provides a glimpse of the atrocities in a military camp through the lenses of a young soldier. The six-minute short will be showcased on June 22.
Bangsamoro: Isang Sulyap sa Kanilang Pakikibaka (2022) by award-winning filmmaker Milo Alto-Paz is a 12-minute collage of interrelated segments. It follows the challenges of 13 ethnolinguistic groups that comprise the Bangsamoro people and how they fight for their rich and complex history and destiny against colonization and war-induced displacement. The film is slated for June 29.
Curated by the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, the selection invites the audience to a discussion about the various concepts, notions, and theories of the Filipino liberation in the contemporary post-colonial landscape.
The free and public online screenings will be conducted via Zoom every 12:00 nn on the scheduled dates.
To register, email mcad@benilde.edu.ph. For more information, visit the official Facebook page of MCAD: https://www.facebook.com/MCADManila.
