Raquela is a transsexual – or ladyboy – from the Philippines who dreams of escaping the streets of Cebu City for a fairy tale life in Paris. In order to make her dreams come true, she turns from prostitution toward the more lucrative business of Internet porn. Her success as a porn star brings new friends, including Valerie, a
ladyboy in Iceland, and Michael, the owner of the website Raquela works for. Valerie helps Raquela get as far as Iceland. From there, Michael offers her a rendezvous in Paris. Will Paris be everything she dreamed of? And will Michael turn out to be her Prince Charming?
The 22nd Singapore International Film Festival will take place on April 14 to April 19, 2009 and a few Filipino films will be featured: Aureus Solito’s Boy, Francis Xavier Pasion’s Jay, Roxlee’s Cesar Asar and Lav Diaz’s Melancholia.
BOY
(Producer: Auraeus Solito, Endi “Hai†Balbuena, Screenplay: Jimmy Flores, Arturo Calo, Cast: Aeious Asin, Aries Pena, Madelaine Nicolas. Schedule: 19th Apr, 11:30am and 24th Apr, 7:15pm at The Substation)
Boy is a coming-of-age story about a boy who falls in love with a macho dancer:
A young budding poet, who is unnamed, observes lip-synching drag-queens and dancing rent-boys in a gay bar one evening and finds himself attracted to Aries, who comes from a poorer part of town. Selling his action heroes and comic books so as to be able to afford Aries for one night, he buys Aries at the bar and brings him home for the new year. Sparks fly while celebratory fireworks go off outside the house and the boys forge a fragile connection that neither of them is certain will last. This is an idealistic, coming-of-age tale of a sensitive boy who arrives at his first lesson about love and who learns to grow confidently into his own sexuality.
Boy is a finalist for the Asian Feature Film Competition.
Cinema Today is a section of the festival about films of today that will become tomorrow’s classics. From drama to comedy to documentaries, presenting the realities of today in this scope of films by some of the most watched filmmakers. The following Filipino films are featured:
The term “men who have sex with men†– frequently shortened to MSM – describes a behaviour rather than a specific group of people. It includes self-identified gay, bisexual, or heterosexual men, many of whom may not consider themselves gay or bisexual.
MSM are often married, particularly where discriminatory laws or social stigma of male sexual relations exist.
If you like the trailer, forward this message to everybody in your mailing lists and egroups, advertise in your blogs or websites. Better yet, DRAG THEM TO WATCH THE FILM WITH YOU! =))
“You’ll feel more at home here than in any previous drag-queen movie. If you don’t, you’ll laugh, you’ll gasp, you may even hurl. But you’ll come out a better person.” – Vancouver International Film Festival
Help us fight the battle against unjust censorship! AURORA has been slapped twice by the MTRCB with an “X” rating. We’re appealing the decision to Malacanang.
The Gay and Lesbian Activist Network for Gender Equality (GALANG) presents
GALANG @ Cinekatipunan. Galang @ Cinekatipunan is a series of free screenings of LGBT-themed films on all Saturdays of November!
All shows begin at 4:30PM and the venue is at Mag:Net Katipunan (AGCOR Bldg.335 Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City). Visit the GALANG Network Website for more info.
Missed out on some of the gay films this year? Well fret not for the UP Film Institute is holding a series of special screenings this semestral break!
Fresh from a slew of international prizes and added festival engagement, Brillante Mendoza’s Serbis continues its maximum extensive run.
A countdown-to-Halloween special billed “Beatitudes for the Dead” hallmarks Aloy Adlawan’s Signos to alternate with Neal Buboy Tan’s Ataul for Rent.
Taking turns for a special full run are such prime titles as Paupahan, Vhagetz; Tiltil; Sun Kissed, Gay Sex in the 70s; Project X; Eskandalo.
Forming a special of its own is a selection of Jowee Morel full-length features, namely, Ec2luv (2005); Mga Paru-parong Rosas (2006); When a Gay Man Loves (2007); Latak (2008) and Moving Dreams (2008).
The last join the rest of the premiering productions within the given screening period: Jigz Recto’s Tutok; Joel Lamangan’s Walang Kawala; Roni Bertubin’s Kurap.
A fisherman, his sex-starved wife, the fisherman’s lover and then more. Walang Kawala (No Way Out) by acclaimed film director Joel Lamangan, explores the dynamics of a hetero-homo love affair that evolves from innocence to violent complications.
Joel Lamangan’s first indie film is a story about a fisherman named Joaquin (played by Polo Ravales) and his young, impulsive lover, Waldo (played by Joseph Bitangcol). The typical formula of a gay affair gone bad and mad in local indie films may appear to be the central theme of this film, but the trailer promises more than just that. Joaquin’s wife, Cynthia (played by newcomer Althea Vega) comes home from her overseas job with open arms and open legs  ready to conceive an offspring  inevatibly forcing Joaquin to confront his sexuality.
Disgusted and hurt over the recent turn of events, Waldo decides to flee and ends up entangled in the gay underworld of Manila. Waldo is caught in a twisted web of events as he gets involved in a dangerous flirtation with a bisexual cop named Rufo (played by Emilio Garcia). Joaquin finds out all about these and more after leaving his wife to search for Waldo. More twists and turns in the storyline lead Joaquin into Rufo’s house where he, like Waldo, eventually becomes prisoner and sex slave to Rufo. Joaquin and Waldo get reunited, but both discover that they are about to be sold to an international sex traffic ring. With the help of Rufo’s battered wife Beng (played by Jean Garcia), the two lovers plot their escape from Rufo’s house.
Will they be able to escape and live a good life together? Or will this storyline end up tragically like other gay-themed indie films?
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