Sine Kwento
SINE KWENTO: Filipino Film and Stories
November 7 – January 30, 2021
SINE KWENTO Filipino Stories in Film is in collaboration with San Diego Filipino Cinema (link: http://sdfilipinocinema.org/about/) and curated by film makers Benito Bautista and Emma Francisco. Remembering our past by celebrating and sharing its inspiration is the theme for this exhibition about the history of Philippine Cinema. The exhibition takes visitors from the beginnings of Philippine cinema into the modern age of media and content creation by Filipino American vloggers in San Diego, California. The month-long exhibit will include film production artifacts like screenplays, film equipment, costumes, film production photos used in some of the films featured in the exhibition.
RESOURCES:
INTERVIEWS with the curators, Benito and Emma
Visitors to the exhibition will experience interactive cinematic film stories celebrating director Cesar Hernando. Films, clothing, props and photography document the historical significance of his work and his impact on contemporary Filipino filmmakers. Highlighted directors include: Cesar Hernando (1946 – 2019); Lavrente Indico Diaz (1958) from the slow cinema movement; Kidlat Tahimik, whose name in Tagalog means “quiet lightning”; Marilou Díaz-Abaya (March 30, 1955 – October 8, 2012); Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal.
The exhibition includes an interactive art installation by Benito and Emma entitled Tela-Nobela which means Fabric-Stories in English. This art piece tells the stories of Filipino immigrants through a community quilt of personal clothing, weaving the ambitions, dreams, imaginations as well as the contributions of many generations of Filipinos into a site specific piece.
From the artists, “Tela-Nobela is a major new installation looking at the contexts of Filipino clothing and fabric– their very personal and cultural meanings – as a backdrop for Filipino stories.” The artists are working with local community groups like Silayan Filipina to create community quilts to be used in the exhibition. The quilts and a projection of classic and modern Filipino films during the exhibition will interact with visitors. Watch a short clip of Tela Nobella projections.
Emma Francisco
Benito Bautista
More about the exhibition and programming schedule:
SINE KWENTO will also have programming on the weekends which includes on-line film screenings, spoken word sessions, panel discussions with filmmakers, and special guests. Programming includes panel discussions with Filipino-American filmmakers and creative collaborators in film, musical performances, and spoken-word (poetry) by San Diego Filipino American artists.
Schedule:
Sat. Nov. 7 – VIP Opening Ceremony and Reception
(On-line)Opening Film: virtual screening of HARANA: the Search for the Lost Art of Serenade
Upon his father’s death, Florante, a classically trained guitarist returns to the Philippines after 12 years of absence. During his stay he rediscovers the music of harana – a long-forgotten tradition of Filipino serenading when men sang under the window at night to fearlessly declare their love for a woman. Led by award winning director Benito Bautista, the riveting film contains a treasure trove of beautiful Filipino music awaiting to be rediscovered. Intent on preserving vanishing customs, the film rekindles a connection with the past before it is irrevocably lost, and portrays a side of the Philippines rarely seen on the screen. Kindergarten teacher Martha Uyeda from Bonita talks about Harana (:23)
Sat. Nov. 14 – Celebration of Filipino Creatives
(On-line and In-person) Night: DJ and Spoken Word Performances
6pm – 10pm – Outdoors at the museum. Enjoy an evening of stories and a social distancing dance party with DJ Qolaj aka Miko Aguilar. Performances include spoken word with Jamie Estepa and Sherwin Ginez. Dancers from Maraya Performing Arts with Anjanette Maraya-Ramey.
Covid guidelines will be given to all participants and will be strictly enforced. The event will take place at the museum and include food by Leaf it B and Hello Donut. Specialty tropical mocktails at the tropical bar. Participants can join in from around the world on our live stream of the event.
Banana leaf yum Sat. Nov. 14th with LeafitB
Sat. Nov. 21- Lokal Shorts (on line)
Featuring short films by Filipinx filmmakers from San Diego
Sine Kwento brings you Lokal Shorts
Sat. Nov. 28 – Closing Ceremony and Reception Closing Film: (on-line)
Screening of Marissa Aroy’s Delano Manongs: Forgotten Heroes of the United Farm Workers and Little Manila. Each film is about 30min in length. Films will screen on Nov. 28th. Join in for Q&A the following day with Marissa Aroy on Sunday November 29th. Marissa Aroy recently received an Emmy for the documentary Sikhs in America. She produced and directed Little Manila: Filipinos in California’s Heartland also for PBS and produced “Sounds of Hope” for Frontline World. Aroy holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Boston College and a master’s degree in journalism from University of California, Berkeley. She received a Fulbright award to do film work in the Philipines. Aroy is currently a Fellow at Trinity College in Dublin.
Artists Participating in the Exhibition and Programming: Sine Kwento
Emma Francisco – filmmaker/film producer/artist/film programmer/writer
Benito Bautista – filmmaker/film producer/writer/artist
Silayan Filipina
Jaimie Pangan – musical composer for films and video games
DJ Qolaj – Miko Aguilar – filmmaker/music producer/sound designer
Jamie Estepa – poet/spoken word
Sherwin Ginez – poet/author/spoken word
Maraya Performing Arts
Hannah Pritchett – director of dance education
Alyssa Junious, Trixi Agiao, Ala Tiatia, and Kara Nepomuceno – Dancers
Anjanette Maraya-Ramey – Dancer
Edrian Pangilinan – editor/filmmaker
Marissa Roxas – filmmaker
Leah Lombos- filmmaker
Jessica Mercado – educator
Lauren Garcen – events coordinator/community leader
Nooks Villaluz – Graphic Artist/Poster Designer
Jeremy Field – museum coordinator/sound designer/audio tech
San Diego Filipino American Filmmakers and their short films
Global Filipino filmmakers
Film Development Council of the Philippines
Filipino and Filipino American community in San Diego
This project was made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit www.calhum.org.
Additional support by the Film Development Council of the Philippines, LUZVIMINDA.PH
Tela Nobela community art project with artists Benito Bautista and Emma Francisco