FDCP holds PeliKULAYa: International LGBTQIA+ Film Festival in celebration of Pride Month

This June, thee Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) spearheads the "PeliKULAYa: International LGBTQIA+ Film Festival" in celebration of Pride Month.

Interviewed at the Laging Handa briefing, FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño-Seguerra said PeliKULAYa's theme this year is "Pantay-Pantay, Iba’t Ibang Kulay!"

"The government is launching stories so that the LGBTQIA+ community will have more representation in the country," Diño-Seguerra said.

"Ang dami pa ngayong struggles na kinakaharap ng ating mga LGBTQ community. And I think mas maraming dayalogo at discourse ang kailangang mangyari para marating ng community na ito ang enabling laws para mas lalo silang maproteskyunan at mabigyan ng equal rights," she added.

(There are still many struggles faced by our LGBTQ community. I think more dialogue and discourse need to be conducted for the community to reach enabling laws that will protect them and give them equal rights.)

The film fest will feature local and international movies, as well as short films and documentaries showcasing the different and colorful stories from the LGBTQIA+ community.

Diño-Seguerro said this year will focus on the transgender community.

"Even in the LGBTQ, there are lesbians, gays, bisexuals, there are still many letters which we do not know and we do not yet understand. This year, we will be focusing and showcasing trans issues."

PeliKULAYa 2022, which is being held from June 10 up to June 26, received support from foreign embassies, including the British Embassy, US Embassy, Embassy of Spain, Embassy of Mexico, Embassy of Chile and Embassy of Denmark.

The lineup includes international films like "Boys Don’t Cry" and "Portrait of a Lady on Fire," as well as Filipino films like "Big Night!" (2021) and "Gameboys: The Movie" (2021).

Diño-Seguerra called on Filipino moviegoers to support local films, as the cinemas reopen after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. —JCB, GMA News