The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) is holding the 2nd PelikuLAYA: LGBTQIA+ Film Festival online until June 30.
With the theme “Sama-Sama, Lahat Rarampa!”, this year’s festival aims to further empower the members of the LGBTQIA+ community through a lineup of local and international films, film talks and lectures, a drag yoga event, and musical performances.
A total of 23 subscription films can be viewed for only P99 on the FDCP Channel (fdcpchannel.ph), including the seven PelikuLAYA titles that are available untilthe end of the Pride Month: Masahista by Brillante Mendoza; I Love You. Thank You by Charliebebs Gohetia; Mga Gabing Kasing Haba ng Hair Ko by Gerardo Calagui, Miss Bulalacao by Ara Chawdhury; Ang Huling Cha-Cha Ni Anita by Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo; Best. Partee. Ever by HF Yambao; and Ned’s Project by Lem Lorca.
Available for rental since June 4 is award-winning French film Portrait of a Lady on Fire by Céline Sciamma starring Adèle Haenel and Noémie Merlant. The 2019 Cannes Awardee for the Queer Palm Prize and Best Screenplay is available for rental for P220 with a 7-day access that will expire 48 hours after the first play.
PelikuLAYA is screening four films for free throughout the festival: Rhadem Morados’ documentary Budjang and three shorts from CineSpectra 2019: A Film Festival for HIV/AIDS Awareness — A by Rod Modina; Alex & Aki by Dexter Paul de Jesus; and Doon sa Isang Sulok by Yong Tapang, Jr. In addition, one-time free screenings will be held: Lihis by Joel Lamangan for the opening program and T-Bird at Ako by Danny Zialcita for the closing program.
“The Film Development Council of the Philippines is relaunching PelikuLAYA this year as an annual LGBTQIA+ film festival organized by the national government as our way to express our continued support for gender equality and inclusivity by creating platforms to bring to light the struggles, celebrate the achievements, and champion the causes of the LGBTQIA+ community,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.
The FDCP’s Cine Lokal held the 1st PelikuLAYA in 2018 with screenings of award-winning films in selected SM Cinemas. The following year, the FDCP mounted the 1st International Pride Celebration at Cinematheque Centre Manila in partnership with the Embassies of the United States, Austria, and Sweden in Manila.
The PelikuLAYA Official Closing Program “Awra!: Mga Awit at Rampa para sa Ating Makulay na Komunidad” on June 30 at 7:00 p.m. will feature a musical performance, a fashion show from members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and a free one-time screening of the restored version of T-Bird at Ako starring Superstar Nora Aunor and Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos, presented by the ABS-CBN Film Restoration Program.
To watch the PelikuLAYA films, visit and register at the FDCP Channel. For more information and inquiries, visit https://www.facebook.com/fdcpchannel or fdcpchannel.ph.