“I consider myself a very serious programmer and curator, but I also make silly drawings ‘as a sort of gentlemanly hobby’ (Burgess).”
Programmer Gertjan Zuilhof curated a programme with divers views on the original inhabitants of the mountains, the plains and the islands of South East Asia. Many first nations. There are 3 parts of the programmes and showcasing the short films by Zai Kuning (Singapore), Pimpaka Towira (Thailand), Margaret Bong (Malaysia), Jen J. Balberona (Philippines), Loeloe Hendra Komara (Indonesia), Auraeus Solito (Philippines) and many more.
BULALACAO
“Bulalacao” portrayed the aerial bombing of a community of Indigenous People Mangyan after an encounter ensued between AFP and NPA Fighters on March 30, 2017. Bulalacao” which means Meteor in Filipino is also the name of the Town where the bombing occured.
SIGBIN
SIGBIN is a dog-like creature in Philippine folklore, said to come out at night to suck blood from the victims using its shadow. It is said to be a pet of an Aswang (Ghoul).
ONOMASTIKA
Synopsis 1: A nameless boy, living with his grandfather who has many names.
Synopsis 2: A child who is not named by his parents, lived with his grandfather who had many names. But he was allowed to find the right name for himself.
SALT BOY
TUDTU follows Ken, a Kelabit boy who lives with his family in a Kelabit Highlands, collecting salt.
BAHAG KINGS
Bahag Kings is an ode to nothing.
The Brief Lifespan of Fire, Act 2 Scene 2, Suring & the Kuk-ok | Ang Maikling Buhay ng Apoy, Act 2 Scene 2, Suring at ang Kuk-ok
Suring retreats to the forest & casts a spell of Absolute Beauty, where she befriends the Kuk-ok, a shape-shifter. ( Based on a scene from the play “The Brief Lifespan of Fire” about Palawan indigenous myths )
THE RETURN
In an unidentified place, Preecha was talking to his brother ‘Hta’ as usual. Yet a moment later Preecha realized that Pa-U, another brother who had recently dead, just came back to bid farewell.
THE PURPLE KINGDOM
Inspired by the story of an ethnic Karen activist Porlajee Rakchongcharoen (a.k.a. Billy) who went missing in Thailand near Kaeng Krachan National Park in Petchaburi province, 100 miles (161 km) south of Bangkok. Park authorities arrested the Karen activist on April 17, 2014 for possessing a wild honeycomb and six bottles of wild honey but released him after giving a warning. He disappeared shortly afterward. In 2012, Billy led a Karen group that filed a complaint with the Central Administrative Court against the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry. The case focuses on the actions of Kaeng Krachan National Park chief and other forestry officials, who burned down 20 Karen houses in a 2011. operation to deal with forest encroachment. Billy had been collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses to press his case. The film has explored the attempt of seeking the justice of Billy’s wife, played by his real wife with a juxtaposition of the searching a dead body of a middle-class woman’s husband, whom was killed by helicopter crash in the jungle.
RIAU
Mariana believes in the mysterious legend of the lovers Halimah and Sukab in the island of Sawai a hundred years ago. She journeys to Sawai to feel what Halimah once felt, hoping to find Sukab there. The people of Sawai never heard of the legend of the lovers. But there happened to be a young man named Sukab who also journeyed to the island in search of an ancient tribe Sukab and Mariana are in search of something they believe in.
SOMEONE’S WIFE IN THE BOAT OF SOMEONE’S HUSBAND
Mariana believes in the mysterious legend of the lovers Halimah and Sukab in the island of Sawai a hundred years ago. She journeys to Sawai to feel what Halimah once felt, hoping to find Sukab there. The people of Sawai never heard of the legend of the lovers. But there happened to be a young man named Sukab who also journeyed to the island in search of an ancient tribe Sukab and Mariana are in search of something they believe in.
JUAN TAMAD GOES TO THE MOON (1898)
Three years before George Melies’ “Le Voyage dans la Lune” and ten years before Segundo de Chomon’s “Excursion En La Luna”, indigenous proto-surrealist Philippine filmmaker Narding Salome Exelsio made “Nagtungo si Juan Tamad sa Buwan” in 1898 while the Philippines was being sold by Spain to American for twenty million dollars (VAT not included).
BONTOC EULOGY
Without any doubt the smartest film in the South East Asian region dealing with with real and fake reflections on its indigenous inhabitants. We follow a Filipino Igarot warrior brought on display in a World Fair in America.