Filipina will be screened followed by a Q&A session with writer, director, and editor Rafael Manuel. Manuel, based between Amsterdam, London, and Manila, is celebrated for his short films, which have earned accolades including a Silver Bear at the Berlinale and screenings at prestigious festivals such as Locarno, IFFR, and FIDMarseilles. This event marks the debut feature-length film for Manuel, who was also mentored by Jia Zhang-ke as the last film protege at the Rolex Arts Initiative.

Filipina with Rafael Manuel (Filmmaker)

Isabel feels strangely drawn to Dr. Palanca, the president of the country club where she works. However, after piecing together a violent picture of what lies beneath the club’s pristine surface, she realizes that what began as an innocent infatuation is actually rooted in a sinister shared history.