Organizer: Asian CineVision (ACV)
Type/Location: Hybrid / New York, NY
Description:
Join Asian CineVision for the screening of Because of You: A History of Kilawin Kolektibo (Dahil Sa 'Yo: Ang Storya Ng Kilawin Kolektibo) as part of the Asian American International Film Festival. The screening will be preceded by the short film, Two Travelling Aunties, and followed by a filmmaker Q&A.
Included Short Film:
Two Travelling Aunties
Christine Seow | UK, Singapore, Colombia | 22 mins
Known as the “2 Travelling Aunties,” Singaporeans Norah and Susie, in their late fifties, document their overlanding journeys, sharing laughter, challenges, and the beauty of life on the road. Behind their carefree spirit, however, lies a history of resilience, as both faced judgement as lesbians in a conservative society. Realising that time waits for no one, they chose to seize life on their own terms. While their story unfolds as a road trip, at its heart, it’s a tender love story—a celebration of courage, companionship, and the freedom to truly be themselves.
Film Synopsis:
This archival documentary traces the history of Kilawin Kolektibo, a pioneering collective of Filipnxs who came together in NYC in the mid-90s. Having experienced marginalization in Filipino culture because of their queerness and in mainstream gay culture because of their race, language, and gender, the members of the group sought political empowerment and increased visibility. But above all, they sought to create a space of friendship and safety for those who found themselves suspended between cultures and identities.
About the DirectorS:
Desireena Almoradie (she/they/siya) emigrated from Manila, Philippines at the age of 11, settling in the borough of Queens, New York, with her family. Their works explore collective history with a focus on queer and/or BIPOC lives. She was nominated for an Emmy and has won a GLAAD Media Award for her work on In the Life, the seminal LGBT news magazine that aired on PBS for two decades. They co-founded the Diverse Filmmakers Alliance (DFA), a collective of filmmakers from all backgrounds working to diversify the filmmaking landscape.
Barbara Malaran (they/them) is an interdisciplinary artist exploring autobiographical stories of community through video and audio narratives. Barbara’s artwork takes on an experimental view of travel, locating ties to imagined homelands, and manipulating time to work against memory decay. They spent their formative years in NYC, learning the craft of filmmaking by documenting Kilawin Kolektibo’s many actions. They currently live in Portland, OR.
Registration:
To watch the film in-person, please purchase tickets here.
To watch the film on-demand, please purchase tickets here.