2 Philippine films to screen at Queens World filmfest
The 13th Queens World Film Festival will take place from April 16th to 28th, returning to the Museum of the Moving Image, Kaufman Astoria Studios for 11 days of 152 foreign films, two of them from the Philippines.
“Surrogate” is a Filipino film set in the Philippines. It’s an excellent example of the depth and emotional resonance of Filipino filmmaking.
Synopsis: After eight years of marriage, a childless couple named Clark and Eileen meet a little girl who one day, came knocking at their door claiming to be Clark’s child. Despite the unexpected situation, the wife accepts the child and temporarily fosters her while figuring the next steps. Meanwhile, Clark investigates the child’s history while Eileen begins to develop an odd and eerie relation with the child.
This poignant narrative explores themes of family, identity, and unexpected connections.
“Prep” is a film about bodybuilding by Raymond Knudsen, an award-winning Filipino American filmmaker based in New York City. He founded Big Blue Pictures in 2020. His work includes acclaimed shorts like “Weapons and Their Names” and “Monkey Bar. His latest film, “Prep,” received recognition at festivals such as Indie Memphis, Mammoth Lakes, and Bend, earning him the Florida Filmmaker Award in 2023.
The QWFF is a platform for storytelling and the power of cinema from around the world. To date, it has screened over 1,800 films representing 92 nations, including 281 films from filmmakers located in Queens. It has produced over 600 screening events serving over 80,000 audiences with exciting films and engaging talk backs designed to connect film lovers and filmmakers.
QWFF is committed to fostering a sense of community among filmmakers and providing a prominent platform for both emerging and established talent. It is made possible, in part, by a Queens Community Arts Grant as part of the Statewide Community Regrants program funded by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and managed by Flushing Town Hall; the New York State Council on the Arts, Statewide Community Regrants Program (formerly the Decentralization program) with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature. It is also made possible in part by funding through New York City Council Member Shekar Krishnan and the Department of Youth and Community Development and public funds from the Queens Arts Fund, a re-grant program supported by New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with New York City Council and administered by New York Foundation for the Arts.
