Inaugural FilAm Creative Film Festival kicks off with 20 film screenings

Photo from @facfilmfestival/Instagram

The inaugural FilAm Creative Film Festival (FACFF) is almost here and it’s bringing its showcase of Filipino-American cinema to Occidental College’s Choi Auditorium in Los Angeles from Nov. 3 to 5.

The three-day event is organized by FilAm Creative (FAC), a Los Angeles-based nonprofit committed to uplifting Filipino Americans, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), and other underrepresented voices in film and media.

The festival kicks off with the screening of its nominees for Best Short Film and Best Music Video. The nominees for Best Short Film includes Kent Donguines’ “Paco,” Angel Cagandahan’s “Love, Lola,” Julian Sibal’s “Jake, The Failure,” San-San Onglatco’s “Palibut-Libot,” Achim Mendoza’s “Connection,” and Kacey Layson’s “Kilig!”

Vying for the title of Best Music Video are Ralph Espinosa’s “Poison,” Bianca Catbagan’s “Bubble Tea,” and Nicholas James Barber’s “Sayo Na.”

You can also catch a screening of Elisa Gambino and Neal Broffman’s Oscar-qualified film ”Every Day After.” Shot in Masbate in the Philippines, it follows Jessa as she seeks medical care for her younger brother Jary who was born with a cleft lip. It won Best Documentary at the 2023 HollyShorts Film Festival.

Photo from @facfilmfestival/Instagram

On day two, audiences can catch its official selections: Presley Paras’ “Sweet Tooth,” Juan Raymundo Ramos’ “Ang Huling Adobo,” Alex De Ocampo’s “Bare-Knuckle,” Rafhael Dungca’s “Packing Day,” Sebastien Tobler’s “Joyrider,” Bianca Somera’s “Homeland,” Arianna Basco’s “Glimmer,” Charlene deGuzman’s “Reality Dad” as well as Katrina Cachola and Matthew Marzo’s “Malaya.”

The festival also features the West Coast premiere of queer Filipina director Michaela Ternasky-Holland’s “Mahal,” which is part of the award-winning immersive animated virtual reality series called “Reimagined” and created in partnership with Meta.

The exhibition is inspired by Philippine mythology and follows the story of immortal children Apolaki, Mayari, Tala, and Hanan as they wrestle with grief from the passing of the creator god Bathala.

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“We are so excited and honored to host Michaela and her mindblowing work in Los Angeles. Not only is she on the forefront of tech in film and media, but she has created a magical world in ‘Mahal’ that highlights Filipino culture and raises awareness to its triumphs and struggles,” says FACFF head Jennielyn Abrot.

Early bird tickets are still up for grabs. You get your tickets for opening night, screening block, panel block, and awards gala on the FACFF website.