Festival Director Rhadem Camilian Morados and PINK Shorts Manila Executive Producer Quincy Raya discussing the principal purpose of the Short+Sweet Film Festival.
text and photos by Colleen Leannbert F. Mariño
It’s the National Arts Month and this month is just all about appreciation. Appreciation of what is struggling but is still kicking.
Kids nowadays actually are getting more and more aware of what they were missing out on. Suddenly we have people going up North to get tattoos from Whang-Od, students flocking into a dozen to visit museums, and unexpected theater-goers to watch underrated Filipino indie-films.
It’s the National Arts Month and this month is just all about appreciation. Appreciation of what is struggling but is still kicking.
Kids nowadays actually are getting more and more aware of what they were missing out on. Suddenly we have people going up North to get tattoos from Whang-Od, students flocking into a dozen to visit museums, and unexpected theater-goers to watch underrated Filipino indie-films.
Awareness and concern in our aesthetics are actually rising. Suddenly we have woken up, monumentally hungry for all these things. This generation is now standing up to embrace the culture - and with purpose.
If you happen to be one of them - us rather, who are badly craving for more of what the local art scene we usually put ourselves into has to offer, watch out for Manila Biennale’s PINK Shorts: Short+Sweet Film Festival.
Manila Biennale’s maiden edition is focused on bringing back the soul of the city of Intramuros, features a variety of month-long celebration of film, theatre, dance, and music performance and expression for art-enthusiasts, locals and literally everyone.
If you happen to be one of them - us rather, who are badly craving for more of what the local art scene we usually put ourselves into has to offer, watch out for Manila Biennale’s PINK Shorts: Short+Sweet Film Festival.
Manila Biennale’s maiden edition is focused on bringing back the soul of the city of Intramuros, features a variety of month-long celebration of film, theatre, dance, and music performance and expression for art-enthusiasts, locals and literally everyone.
SHORT+SWEET's venue hall.
Intramuros was once the heart and soul of Manila, and this festival aims to revive the walled city as our capital’s center for arts and culture and prove that it is more than just a simple go-to during field trips. And also, as what the curator, Matthew Lopez had mentioned, it would also help people upon understanding and projecting the progress of Philippine art in the realm of nostalgia, memorialism, social realities, cross-boundary exchanges and gender issues.
Now going back to the Short+Sweet Film Festival, get this. PINK Shorts Manila basically, is the LGBT component of Short+Sweet International that intends to deliver a selection of contemporary stories about the struggles of the LGBT community, that they go through on the daily and still carry at the end of time.
Six short films (and also, six short plays) will be presented on the 24th and 25th of February (Saturday and Sunday) at the Teatrillo in Casa Manila, showcasing the talent of local LGBT artists who are known for their craft. PINK Shorts Manila Executive Producer Quincy Raya says, “It’s not just about having a gay character, it really has to show a struggle and hopefully provide a solution to the LGBT community.”
Moreover, the films submitted are candidates for two awards at the fest, which are the Jury Award, that will be selected by experts from the corporate world, film industry, LGBT advocates and the Australian Embassy and Viewer’s Choice, that will be voted on by the audience itself.
Nevertheless, whatever the triumphant film will be, the goal is to be able to educate the public what is beyond this special community that is being taken for granted. Like what Rhadem Camilian Morados, the Festival Director had suggested, it isn’t necessarily about the acceptance that they long to have but just a safe space for the LGBT in this country.
(The glam ticket pass that includes the access to the program and to the party reception with one free drink is worth 600 pesos, while the special pass for students and senior citizens with the same access is worth 500 pesos.)
Now going back to the Short+Sweet Film Festival, get this. PINK Shorts Manila basically, is the LGBT component of Short+Sweet International that intends to deliver a selection of contemporary stories about the struggles of the LGBT community, that they go through on the daily and still carry at the end of time.
Six short films (and also, six short plays) will be presented on the 24th and 25th of February (Saturday and Sunday) at the Teatrillo in Casa Manila, showcasing the talent of local LGBT artists who are known for their craft. PINK Shorts Manila Executive Producer Quincy Raya says, “It’s not just about having a gay character, it really has to show a struggle and hopefully provide a solution to the LGBT community.”
Moreover, the films submitted are candidates for two awards at the fest, which are the Jury Award, that will be selected by experts from the corporate world, film industry, LGBT advocates and the Australian Embassy and Viewer’s Choice, that will be voted on by the audience itself.
Nevertheless, whatever the triumphant film will be, the goal is to be able to educate the public what is beyond this special community that is being taken for granted. Like what Rhadem Camilian Morados, the Festival Director had suggested, it isn’t necessarily about the acceptance that they long to have but just a safe space for the LGBT in this country.
(The glam ticket pass that includes the access to the program and to the party reception with one free drink is worth 600 pesos, while the special pass for students and senior citizens with the same access is worth 500 pesos.)
