Filipino Short Films at GIFF Special Program 2021

According to Gandhara Independent Film Festival (GIFF) Founder and Executive Director Kamran Naseem, GIFF was first launched back in 2012 in support of independent films in Pakistan. The festival had been inactive for a few years until it was revived as a digital platform in 2020 with a broader vision --to support emerging and established voices, discover award-winning filmmakers, curate innovative and interactive experiences, and introduce new ideas through premieres, exhibitions and panel discussions.

GIFF is also an advocate of mental health awareness and hosts an annual screening dedicated to the said cause. GIFF further expands their programming with the help of their community executives from different countries. This December, GIFF presents "Stories of Filipino's Life in Five Short Films," followed by a panel discussion with the film directors.

Here are the films you can watch for free from December 3 to 5 by subscribing to GIFF channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwLPVdS0u6EdX6VEiyPRULg

1. HILUM (dir. Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan)

Hilum tells the story of a young woman who is training under her mother to become a professional mourner-for-hire. After being shamed and scolded for a bad performance, she leaves home to seek a shaman who can help her gain the ability to cry at will.

2. MULI (dir. Hanz Shayne)

This quiet film about grief and acceptance had seemed to breathe a new purpose with the current health climate. Muli follows a young man's moving out day and his memories of his wife who died a year ago.

3. DEAFINITELY (dir. Anj Chua)

Deafinitely gives voice to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community as Chua chooses to cast a real life hard-of-hearing person for her main character--a deaf student who braves the challenges of becoming a filmmaker.

4. OPHELIA (dir. Celina Mae Medina)

Ophelia is the story about mishandled depression as a college student seeks psychiatric help from her parents that make her go through "cures" based on their own beliefs.

5. PAGKATAPOS (dir. Jose Gabriel Jacinto)

Jacinto's film presents a high school student who thinks about the next phase of his life when he develops a special friendship only a few days before graduation that it almost feels like a daydream.

#GandharaIndependentFilmFestival #FilipinoShortFilms #DonEblahan #HanzShayne #AnjChua #CelineMaeMedina #JoseGabrielJacinto #Deafinitely #Ophelia #AudreyAlquiroz #MikeLiwag

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