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Gold House showcases Filipino filmmakers; TOFA honors outstanding Pinoys in LA
The month of October was a hectic busy month for Fil-Ams who are celebrating Filipino American History Month.
In Los Angeles alone, the month is packed with Fil-Am celebrations. One of the biggest events in the City of Angels was when Gold House and United Talent Agency (UTA) highlighted and showcased the short films of six upcoming Fil-Am filmmakers in an exclusive screening at UTA followed by a panel discussion with the filmmakers which film programmer Irene Soriano moderated.
Featured filmmakers include Alex De Ocampo, Grace Hanna, Iliana Garcia, Nicole Mairose Dizon, Jarreau Carrillo, and Kayla Abuda Galang.
Alex de Ocampo's action movie "Bareknuckle" (18 minutes and 39 seconds) deals with a hitman, coming to terms with his sexuality and grapples with the dual challenge of breaking free from a toxic relationship while confronting the merciless underworld he has chosen. He ultimately aims to redefine his own destiny through self-love and redemption.
De Ocampo is a producer, director, and strategic public affairs consultant with more than 22 years of experience in entertainment, government relations, and philanthropy. De Ocampo marries his interest in arts and civic engagement by producing and directing Public Service Announcements to advance AAPI issues and creating political ads to encourage participation in the democratic process.
Grace Hanna's "Lola" (11 minutes and 15 seconds) is about a 13-year-old science prodigy who is on a mission to cure her grandmother's dementia. She creates a machine that allows her to travel inside her grandmother's mind to save one precious memory they have together.
Hanna is a writer and director who is obsessed with heartfelt genre stories. A graduate of AFI's Directing Program, she has completed a mentorship in Manila under F. Sionil Jose.
Iliana Garcia's "A Guide for When Immigrants Become Ancestors" (5 minutes and 32 seconds) is an intimate portrait of a fourth-generation Mexico Filipino American, as they navigate what it means to inherit an identity rooted in cultural memory.
Garcia is a documentary editor and filmmaker who loves to create both short and long-form documentaries. A graduate of Pomona College with a BA in Media Studies and a 2022 Armed with A Camera Fellow, Garcia loves to take an intimate look into the world of identity, loss and place.
Nicole Mairose Dizon's "Morena" (7 minutes and 30 seconds) is about an insecure folk artist who seeks out a skin-whitening cream to cope with everyday life. She races against time to reverse the terrifying supernatural side effects.
Dizon is a writer-director-producer whose work has screened at SXSW and has been recognized by the NAACP, The New Yorker and Short of the Week. She loves to explore social issues and themes of class with elements of thriller and surrealism.
Kayla Abuda Galang's "When You Left Me On That Boulevard" (13 minutes and 8 seconds) is about a teenager Ly and her cousins who get high before a boisterous family Thanksgiving at their auntie's house in Southeast San Diego in 2006.
Galang, who was born in Olangapo and raised in San Diego and Houston, is an Austin-based filmmaker who draws from the minutiae of her communities, surroundings, and memory. She was named one of Filmmaker Magazine's 25 New Faces of Independent Film, and her short, "When You Left Me On That Boulevard," received the Short Film Grand Jury Prize at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and the Special Jury Award for Vision at the 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival. She is currently developing her first feature film.
Last but not least, Jarreau Carrillo's "The Vacation" (9 minutes and 27 seconds) is about four friends in Flatbush, Brooklyn who are stuck in their car after it breaks down on the way to the beach on the last day of the summer. They start discussing a lot of things about life and its challenges.
Carrillo, a Brooklyn-based writer-director-actor, is currently staffed on the Amazon Studio series "I'm A Virgo." Educated at Morehouse College and NYU Tisch, Carrillo gained recognition for his short "The Vacation" which won a Special Jury Award for Directing at Sundance Film Festival.
On the other hand, for the first time in the history of the 13-year-old The Outstanding Filipino Awards (TOFA, formerly known as The Outstanding Filipino Americans), the awards ceremony is being held outside of New York – in Los Angeles.
"The decision to move TOFA from its longstanding home in New York to Los Angeles was not taken lightly. As the search for outstanding Filipinos has expanded globally, we recognized the importance of bringing the event to different cities and regions. This move reflects the ever-growing reach and influence of Filipino talent and serves as a testament to the global impact of Filipino achievers," said founder Elton Lugay.
As for holding the event during Filipino American History Month, Lugay said, "It has immense significance since October is a month dedicated to acknowledging and commemorating the rich history, heritage and cultural contributions of Filipino Americans. By hosting the event during this month, we pay homage to the struggles, triumphs, and invaluable contributions of the Filipino community throughout American history."
Boy Abunda, TOFA's resident emcee, hosted the show. Abunda explained the significance also of holding the glamorous event at the Zipper Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles. Abunda asked the audience, "Did you know that this venue was named after Herbert Zipper who is a composer, lyricist and conductor of the Manila Symphony Orchestra during World War II?"
Co-hosted by KTLA 5 News anchor Cher Calvin, the event had special guests former Vice President Leni Robredo, and Attorney General Rob Bonta. Calvin announced the candidacy of Attorney General Bonta for Governor of California.
California State Assembly candidate Jessica Caloza spoke on behalf of the Presidential awardees this year while singer Garth Garcia spoke on behalf of the volunteers.
In a memorable moment in TOFA history, GMA's award-winning host, Jessica Soho (Global Award), and former ABS-CBN news chief, Ging Reyes (National Award), graced the TOFA stage as joint recipients.
The all-Filipino Broadway musical, "Here Lies Love" (HLL), received the Global Award for Arts & Culture, and the award was accepted by HLL creative director Bianca Moran Parkes and HLL co-producer and cultural and community liaison Giselle "G" Tongi.
Miss Universe R'Bonney Gabriel who received the Global Award for Women Empowerment was not able to come but sent a video greeting to the TOFA audience and guests.
Nurse May Parsons, the Filipino-British nurse who was acknowledged by Queen Elizabeth for administering the first COVID vaccine in December 2020, received the Global Award for Healthcare.
Dr. Tess Mauricio, America's Favorite Dermatologist who also has a reality show, "All in the Family with Dr. Tess" on GMA-7, received the Global Award for Beauty & Wellness. Her whole family was present at the awards show as well as her good friend and client former Miss Philippines and Cultural Ambassador to the Philippines, and global spokesperson Krista Kleiner.
Thirty-two-year-old accountant-activist-politician Kenneth Mejia, who has been the City Controller of Los Angeles since 2022, received the National Award for Youth. He is the first Filipino American elected official in the city, the first Asian American elected to a citywide office, and the youngest and first person of color to hold the position in over a century.
VIP guests and celebrities continued the celebration at an after-party at Emmy Award-winning producer and former beauty queen Lisa Manibog Lew's lovely home on the hills above Sunset Boulevard. TOFA board members Brendan Flores (chairman), Richard and Imee Maghanoy, Ruben Nepales and this writer joined Lugay and other guests to toast another memorable TOFA year.
—MGP, GMA Integrated News
