Genre
Synopsis
This hybrid experimental documentary traces the history of Kilawin Kolektibo, a pioneering collective of Filipnxs who came together in NYC in the mid-nineties. Having experienced marginalization in Filipino culture because of their queerness and in mainstream gay culture because of their race, language, and gender, the members of the group sought political empowerment and increased visibility.
Culling from a treasure trove of over a quarter century’s worth of historic documentation, the film tells the story of members as they protest and party, serving as an exhilarating memorial to the rebellion and nostalgia of the nineties, and as a love letter to today’s queer QTBIPOC community.
Bio
Desireena Almoradie (she/they) emigrated from Manila, Philippines at the age of 11, settling in the borough of Queens, New York with her family. Her works explore collective history with a focus on queer and/or BIPOC lives. She was nominated for an Emmy and has won a GLAAD Media Award for her work on In the Life, the seminal LGBT news magazine that aired on PBS for two decades. She co-founded the Diverse Filmmaker’s Alliance (DFA), a collective of filmmakers from all backgrounds working to diversify the filmmaking landscape. Most recently, Desireena was awarded a NYC Women's Fund for Media, Prism Foundation Grant, the Barbara Hammer Experimental Filmmaking Grant, and the New York State Council on the Arts grant for their documentary Because of You: A History of Kilawin Kolektibo, a collaboration with Barbara Malaran.
Screening History
Premiere Available
Awards History
NYC Women's Fund for Media
Prism Foundation Grant
Barbara Hammer Experimental Filmmaking Grant
NYSCA Individual Artist Grant
Wave Farm Media Arts Assistance Fund for Artists
