Filmmakers Commend QC’s Gender Fair Advocacy

Filmmakers from the Quezon City International Pink Film Festival (QCIPFF) 2018 expressed gratitude to Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista for providing a comprehensive anti-discrimination policy on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

“Ang Quezon City ang nangunguna sa lahat ng LGUs natin in terms of anti-discrimination advocacy at nakikita natin na effective ito sa Quezon City sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng film festival, kahit magamit man lamang ito na plataporma para sa pagpapalawak ng kamalayan tungkol sa ating LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) community,” QCIPFF director Nick Deocampo said.

Quezon City provides an avenue for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community filmmakers to showcase their craft through the QCIPFF.

Filmmakers also emphasized the significant impact of supporting LGBTQ-themed films as platforms to increase awareness of the public on social and health issues the members of the LGBTQ are facing today.

“Kapag naipalabas kasi ito lalo na kapag napanood ng madla, hindi lang ng mahihilig ng mga pelikula parang mararamdaman na rin nila ang nararamdaman ng mga LGBTQ para lalo nilang maintindihan ang mga ito, lalo na sa mga may anak na lesbian or gay,” Filmmaker Nixs Bernal said.

This year’s festival features the free-showing of 64 award-winning local and international films and will host seminars on LGBTQ rights and health issues.

Festival entries include ‘Call Her Ganda’ by PJ Raval as the opening film in UP Cine Adarna, and Filipino cult classics ‘Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros’ and Soxie Topacio’s ‘Ded na si Lolo’.

The Quezon City International Pink Film Festival will run November 14 to 25, 2018 at the Gateway Cineplex, University of the Philippines Film Center, and Cinema Centenario.

The QC government continues to comply to protect and enhance the right of the people to human dignity, reduce social, economic, and political inequalities, and remove cultural inequities under the Section 1 (a), Article XIII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

The Quezon City Pride Council spearheads cultural, arts, film, sports and other related events including education campaigns on LGBT issues and concerns under the QC Gender-Fair Ordinance. (PIA-NCR)