Free film talk to tackle queer representation in Philippine cinema

Happy Pride!

The Film Development Council of the Philippines' (FDCP) JuanFlix channel will be hosting a film talk about early queer representation in Philippine cinema.

"Kaming Mga Talyada: Exploring Early Queer Representation in Film through Comedy," which is part of the FDCP's Pelikulaya in celebration of Pride, will be held at the Cinematheque Centre in Manila today, June 21, at 3:45 p.m.

The talk is free admission and will feature film critics Jason Tan Liwag and Lé Baltar, former President of TBA Studios Ting Nebrida, and director Dolly Dulu as panelists. Screenwriter Wanggo Gallaga will also serve as moderator.

Per FDCP, the panelists will discuss "an early work of local queer film and how it magnifies gender identity and societal perceptions through an audio-visual medium."

The film, of course, is none other than Tony Cayado's 1962 classic "Kaming Mga Talyada (We Who Are Sexy)."

A free special screening of Cayado's film will precede the talk and will be shown at 2 p.m. The film stars Christine Jorgensen, a transgender actress considered among the first to undergo gender-confirmation surgery in the United States, as well as the late Eddie Garcia and Pablo "Babalu" Martin Sarmiento, among others.

"Kaming Mga Talyada (We Who Are Sexy)" follows the story of seven effeminate brothers who are enlisted in the army by force by their father in hopes of turning them into real men.

Those who wish to catch the talk and film screening today may register here. Walk-ins may also be accommodated depending on available seats.

FDCP's Pelikulaya kicked off on June 19 and will run until June 30 in various cinemas across the country. Its curated lineup of films "acknowledges the struggles of the past but also celebrates the resilience and vibrancy of queer lives today."

— CDC, GMA Integrated News