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Avid Liongoren's 'Zsazsa Zaturnnah' lands int'l competition slot at BIFAN
Avid Liongoren's 'Zsazsa Zaturnnah' lands int'l competition slot at BIFAN
Filipino filmmaker Avid Liongoren has scored a major international breakthrough after his animated feature "Zsazsa Zaturnnah" was selected for competition at the 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) in South Korea.
The Philippines-France co-production is one of only 11 films chosen for "Bucheon Choice World: Features," the festival’s international competition section spotlighting emerging directors and innovative genre filmmaking from around the world. The festival will run from July 2 to 12 in Bucheon City.
The selection marks another milestone for Philippine animation, a sector that has long struggled for recognition despite the country’s reputation as a global outsourcing hub for animation production. It is also a rare achievement for an original Filipino animated feature, particularly one centered on queer themes and local pop culture.
Adapted from the cult comic book by Carlo Vergara, "Zsazsa Zaturnnah" follows Ada, a gay beautician who swallows a magical stone and transforms into the flamboyant superhero Zsazsa Zaturnnah. The story has become a cultural touchstone in the Philippines, spawning stage productions and a live-action film while earning praise for its blend of comedy, fantasy, and LGBTQ+ representation.
In announcing the selection, BIFAN described the film as “an animated musical comedy” that “delightfully fuses queer identity with a superhero narrative,” following a gay hairdresser who transforms into a female superhero through magical powers.
The recognition is particularly significant given the challenges behind the film’s production. Earlier this year, Liongoren revealed that the project took six years to complete amid difficulties securing funding.
“Birthing a film into the world is terrifying,” the director wrote on Instagram in April.
“Our team has worked so hard the past 6 years. Making a queer superhero film sounds fun until you realize that it is so niche that no business entities would be willing to back it. But we kept working despite the countless rejections & we slowly gained support from really kind folks,” he said.
For Philippine cinema, the film’s inclusion in one of Asia’s leading genre festivals underscores the growing global visibility of Filipino stories that embrace distinct local identities rather than conform to mainstream formulas. It also highlights the increasing recognition of animation as a legitimate artistic and cinematic medium, rather than merely a commercial or children's genre.
Founded in 1997, BIFAN is one of Asia’s premier festivals dedicated to fantasy, horror, science fiction, animation, and other genre films. This year's international competition lineup features entries from Japan, Ireland, Australia, Spain, Finland, South Korea, Taiwan, the United States, France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Philippines.
With "Zsazsa Zaturnnah" now set to compete on the international stage, Liongoren's long-gestating passion project stands poised to bring a uniquely Filipino queer superhero story to a wider global audience.
