Equality, diversity, and inclusion. These were the themes of the short films screened at the opening of the Five Films for Freedom, the world’s largest online celebration of LGBTQIA+ cinema, yesterday, March 13, at the UP Cebu Lawak Sinehan.
Mr. Mike Cabigon, a representative of the British Council, talked about how the initiative is only one of the many ways to uphold the rights to gender identity, expression, and sex characteristics. He added that LGBTQIA+ rights are human rights, and grant individuals the freedom to live and love without fear of prejudice.
Filling the venue with a river of emotions, students, faculty, and guests gather at Lawak Sinehan on March 13 to watch five captivating films: “Compton’s 22,” “Cursive,” “Halfway,” “The First Kiss,” and “Little One.”
Sharing their messages virtually with the audience before each film was shown were the filmmakers and directors that included Drew De Pinto (USA), Isabel Steuble-Johnson (UK), Kumar Chheda (India), Miguel Lafuente (Spain), and John Clister Santos (Philippines).
After the showing, guests and chosen representatives of the LGBT community provided insightful reactions. They included College of Communication, Art, and Design Faculty Dominic Yasay, Pride Acting Chair John Ryan Jacot, Cebu Normal University (CNU) Student Godfrey Petallar of CiNe-U, and ELIZAH.
“The event is a safe space for nurturing perspectives,” said Cabigon, who encouraged the audience to share the films with their network.
The Five Films for Freedom, now in its 10th year, is free to watch on the YouTube channel of the British Council for 12 days starting on March 13-24. (Report and photos by Communication Program First Year Student Athena Romulo)