“Women of the Weeping River” Featured at Sinehan sa Summer 2018 in New York
Ms. Sharifa Pearlsia Ali-Dans (right), 40th Gawad Urian Supporting Actress Awardee, emphasized the crucial role of Muslim women in their community particularly in conflict situations. Ms. Fiel Zabat (center) together with Mr. Gil Quito, facilitate the Talk Back. (photo courtesy of Ms. Lambert Parong)
NEW YORK 10 September 2018 – A powerful indie film about women caught in the middle of a clan war closed the Philippine Consulate General in New York Sinehan sa Summer 2018 Edition in New York.
“Women of the Weeping River” is set in a remote community in Zamboanga and Jolo, Sulu with the river serving as the demarcation line between two families caught in a generations-long blood feud.
The film garnered 12 nominations in the 40th Philippine Gawad Urian, and won six awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography and Best Editing. Directed by Sheron Dayoc, the film earned praise and moved audiences in its portrayal not just of how women bear the sorrow resulting from the senseless loss of life brought by tribal conflict but also how they courageously struggled to stop the cycle of vengeance.
During the talk back, Ms. Sharifa Pearlsia Ali-Dans, who was then Assistant Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government – ARMM, and a supporting actress in the film, mentioned that the cast are not professional actors and actresses but Tausugs from Zamboanga and Sulu so both the dialogue and narration are done in the Tausug language.
When asked about “rido” or clan war, she emphasized that Islam does not teach them to avenge, but more to do with their culture of protecting their families. She thanked the Consulate and its partners for including the film in the Festival. Ms. Fiel Zabat, a member of the Sinehan sa Summer Screening Committee, facilitated the talk back.
The screening was attended by members of the Tausug community in New York and New Jersey, with some of the audience coming from as far as Texas. Members of the Mindanao State University alumni, Kinding Sindaw Melayu Heritage who are mostly Maranao, Philippine Nurses Association in New York and Philadelphia, and the film enthusiasts who were regular viewers during the month-long festival were also in attendance, resulting in a packed Kalayaan Hall.
Sinehan sa Summer, now in its 11th year, was held every Wednesday from 1 to 29 August 2018 at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center. This year’s series was aimed at broadening the audience of Filipino-American and mainstream viewers.
This year, Sinehan featured one Master Highlight: Peque Gallaga’s “Sonata”, two indie films and 24 short films. All of the screening days had SRO attendance.
In addition to regular Wednesdays, for the first time, the Sinehan sa Summer Outdoor Series screened films outside of New York City, to reach out to film enthusiasts in nearby States. Kids Philippines Inc., in Connecticut hosted the screening in Griswold, Connecticut and the National Federation of Filipino American Associations-Region I and Philadelphia Asian-American Film Festival hosted the event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. END
For more information, visit www.newyorkpcg.dfa.gov.ph/ www.newyorkpcg.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNY/
Deputy Consul General Kerwin Orville Tate welcomes the audience during the Closing Night of the 2018 Sinehan sa Summer. (Photo courtesy of Mr. Lambert Parong)
Consul General Claro S. Cristobal greeted and thanked Ms. Sharifa Pearlsia Ali-Dans and the Screening Committee members.