“PRINSESA” – 12 minutes – USA
A father is conflicted over the gender-identity questions of his young son. Inspired by the Singkil dance of the Philippines.
“A captivating look at love and acceptance” – Ray Kouguell, VOICE OF AMERICA
A fantastic film! Audiences will love it!” – Kolmel Withlove, Programmer, FRAMELINE 38
OUTLINE:
Filipino-American father “Rey” is home watching sports and drinking beer with his pals, when a moderate earthquake rattles the house and plunges them all into darkness. There is chaos in the darkness. And Rey’s young boy and girl run to him for comfort. Rey’s pals are bored and need attention too.
Attempting to appease both, Rey brings up a childhood tale from the Philippines: the Singkil folk tale about a princess dancing through an earthquake.
Reality turns to fantasy, as the children envision themselves in the dance: set in a magical forest of thundering drums and gongs, evil sprites and a “damsel in distress.” But it soon becomes apparent that the little boy would much rather play the role of the princess than the warrior prince.
Rey’s pals immediately confront him to “straighten out” his boy and make him act “like a man.” But Rey wonders does his boy really want to be a girl? And what does that really mean?
WRITTEN BY:
| Drew Stephens | Conrad Panganiban | Emmanuel Romero |
- Cast & Crew
- Photos: Behind The Scenes; The ‘Star Wars’ Studio; Film Festivals
- “PRINSESA” on Facebook
- Watch Film Now
NEWS ARTICLES
- “Interview with Director of “Prinsesa” – Voice of America [YouTube Video]
- “Film with Fil-Am Cast Heads to Biggest LGBT Film Festival” – GMA NEWS (Philippines) [News Article on GMA Website]
- “Short Film About Boy Who Identifies As The Princess” – Philippine News [Link to PDF of Article]
- “Celebrating The Princess Within” – Outrage Magazine [Link to article on Outrage Magazine website]
7 Awards & More than 50 screenings in 14 countries…
…not bad for an all-volunteer-made short film!
| 2018-09-08 | USA | San Francisco | Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema | |
| 2018-01-27 | USA | San Francisco | DignitySF 45th Anniversary | LGBT Catholics & Allies |
| 2017-01-01 | Canada | Vancouver | Out In Schools | Traveling showcase for students |
| 2016-11-09 | USA | San Jose | PFLAG Event | Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays |
| 2016-11-09 | Germany | Berlin | Asia Film Berlin | |
| 2016-06-04 | USA | Seattle | Diwa Filipino Film Showcase | |
| 2015-12-13 | Ukraine | Kiev | Kiev Queerfest | |
| 2015-09-16 | Indonesia | Jakarta | Q Film Festival | |
| 2015-08-15 | Philippines | Cebu | Cebu Intl Film Festival | |
| 2015-08-14 | USA | North Carolina | North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival | |
| 2015-06-11 | Spain | Valencia | Valencia Film Festival | |
| 2015-05-30 | Mexico | Mexico City | Mix Mexico Film Fest | |
| 2015-05-07 | France | Paris | Paris Short Film Festival | |
| 2015-03-13 | Australia | Melbourne | Melbourne Queer Film Festival | |
| 2015-01-15 | Spain | Bilbao | Zinegoak Gay & Lesbian Film Fest | |
| 2014-11-22 | Cambodia | Phnom Penh | Special Screening | Dubbed into Khmer language for nationwide tour |
| 2014-11-16 | Myanmar | Yangon | Yangon LGBT Film Festival | Premiere event |
| 2014-11-16 | USA | Columbus, Ohio | Columbus Intl Film + Video Festival | |
| 2014-11-09 | USA | San Diego | San Diego Asian Film Fest | |
| 2014-11-07 | USA | Ft Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale Intl Film Fest | |
| 2014-10-22 | USA | Orlando Florida | Orlando Film Festival | |
| 2014-10-11 | Indonesia | Yogyakarta | Special Screening | with Princess Ayu Bulantrisna Djelantik of Bali! |
| 2014-10-04 | USA | Tampa Florida | Tampa Intl Gay & Lesbian Film Fest | with John Waters! |
| 2014-10-04 | USA | Maui Hawaii | Maui Pride Film Festival | |
| 2014-09-19 | USA | Palm Springs | Palm Springs Gay & Lesbian Film Fest | {FESTIVAL FAVORITE} |
| 2014-09-18 | Canada | Vancouver | Vancouver Queer Film Festival | |
| 2014-09-04 | Canada | Toronto | Toronto Independent Film Festival | |
| 2014-07-22 | Mexico | Mexico City | Mexico Intl Film Festival | {SILVER PALM AWARD} |
| 2014-06-23 | Spain | Barcelona | Barcelona Intl Film Festival | {CASTELL AWARD} |
| 2014-06-19 | USA | San Francisco | Frameline 38 | |
| 2014-05-23 | India | Mumbai | KASHISH International Queer Film Festival | Intl Premiere |
| 2014-05-22 | USA | Hawaii | Big Island Film Festival | |
| 2014-03-01 | USA | San Francisco | Scary Cow Showcase | {BEST FILM} {WRITING} {VISUAL FX} {ART DIRECTION} {MEMBER'S AWARD} |