Worlds We Are, a three-part event, is set to screen a rich collection of 20 award-winning and critically acclaimed moving images, which answer the fundamental questions on existence and history.
The hybrid documentaries, video essays and diaries, narrative experiments, filmed performances, and archival audio visions circle around places in or connected to Southeast Asia.
Organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), the selected works were curated by film scholar, educator, programmer, and critic Patrick F. Campos.
The program is divided into three overlapping sections: The “Selves” delves into the effect of subject formation, memory, sense of belonging to others, and inescapable attachment to home. “Worlds” figures the self as simultaneously one and many formed amid communities and catastrophes. “Histories” contextualizes the narrative of selves in a long set of motion and recent pasts against violent silencing and erasures.
“Selves” includes Yesterday (Kemarin) (2008) by Otty Widasari, The Studio aka The Songs That Sung Her (2015) by Sun Koh, Into the Violet Belly (2022) by Thuy-Han Nguyen-Chi, Haya (2022) by Ugnė Alaburdaitė, Sisyphus’ Cat (Con mèo của Sisyphus) (2022) by LÝ Trang, A Worm, Whatever Will Be, Will Be (2022) by Mickey Lai, and Fifth Cinema (2018) by Nguyen Trinh Thi.
“Worlds” is composed of A Spider, Fever and Other Disappearing Islands (2021) by Natalie Khoo, Casting a Spell to Alter Reality (2020) by Pam Virada, A Day Without Sun in Mengkerang (Chapter One) (2013) by Au Sow Yee, Rasa & Asa (Flavors, Feelings, and Hope) (2022) by Okui Laka and Nasrikah Paidin, Kassaram (2020) by Thania Petersen, and Expedition Content (2020) by Veronika Kusumaryati and Ernst Karel.
“Histories” comprises To Pick a Flower (2021) by Shireen Seno, Nightfall (2016) by Anocha Suwichakornpong and Tulapop Saenjaroen, Night Watch (2015) by Danaya Chulphuthiphong, The Cave (Puke ng Ina) (2019) Drestel Galang, February 1st (2021) by Mo Mo and Leïla Macaire, From the Dark Depths (Gikan Sa Ngitngit Nga Kinailadman) (2017) by Kiri Dalena, and Memories of a Forgotten War (2001) by Sari Lluch Dalena and Camilla Benolirao Griggers.
Worlds We Are includes a dialogue with Campos, a talk by cultural worker, writer, and independent curator Lisa Ito-Tapang, and a panel discussion with filmmakers Sari Dalena and Drestel Galang with curator Lara Acuin.
It will be held from Thursday, Sept. 14 to Saturday, Sept. 16, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at MCAD at the Benilde Design + Arts Campus along Dominga Street in Malate, Manila.
Slots are available for ₱300 for all three days of screening.
Interested participants may register through https://forms.gle/dpe8qXGJ6s5RMLWP6.