PHILIPPINES - Feb 28, 2004
In celebration of the Philippines' June Pride Month, the Mowelfund Film Institute has announced the 2nd Pink Film Festival (The International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival) at SM Megamall Cinema as well as in major cities around the Philippines such as Iloilo, Baguio and Cebu. "The Pink Film Festival is a fitting tribute to ten years of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Pride in the Philippines and the gains Filipinos have achieved in terms of advancing equality and acceptance of all citizens," said noted independent filmmaker Nick Deocampo, who is also the founder of the event and serves as the festival director.
The 1st Pink Film Festival was held five years ago - the first ever gay-themed film event of international magnitude held locally. Curated by Deocampo, it opened with "Happy Together," the film that won for Hong Kong director, Wong Kar Wai, the Best Director Award in Cannes in 1995. It closed with the Cannes Palme d'Or winner, Chen Kaige's "Farewell my Concubine."
The first festival ran for three weeks and included works by international filmmakers who showed solidarity with Deocampo's call for giving pride to homosexuals in the Philippines through cinema. Participating counties included China, Israel, the USA, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, and Belgium.
Local films featured included Lino Brocka's "Macho Dancers," Mel Chionglo's "Burlesk King" and "Midnight Dancers," Danny Zialcita's "And T-Bird at Ako," Joel Lamangan's "Pusong Mamon (Cake Hearts)," Carlito Siguion-Reyna's "Ang Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya (The Man in Her Life)" as well as internationally-acclaimed documentaries like Deocampo's notoriously famous, "Oliver" and "The Sex Warriors and The Samurai."
The Mowelfund Film Institute's Pink Film Committee will coordinate the programming, preparations and staging for the coming festival.