5:30 - 7:00
Pandemic Bread is a short dramatic film about a Filipino interpreter taking an end-of-life call with a doctor and an elderly woman diagnosed with COVID in her quarantined hospital room. This is a story of resilience, agency, and hope told through the eyes of the interpreter who bakes bread during the call. The film involves a unique collaboration with San Diego Filipino community, UCSD students, and film professionals. By coming together to creatively express COVID-related experiences, this film offers an artistic vehicle of catharsis to aid in collective healing. Please register here so we can get an approximate headcount.
NR, 22 mins., 2023. Film in English and Tagalog with closed captions (CC) in English.
The film is adapted from a story of the same title written by Marivi Soliven, and inspired by her day job as a phone interpreter. The story is included in her collection of Filipino Immigrant stories, Suddenly Stateside:Postscript. A moderated conversation follows the screening.
Marivi Soliven has authored 19 books, including The Mango Bride, winner of the 2011 Palanca Award, the Philippine counterpart of the Pulitzer Prize. “Pandemic Bread” her story about interpreting for end-of-life calls was adapted to a short film, which has screened at 11 film festivals across the country, Mexico and the UK. Suddenly Stateside: Postscript, a collection of immigrant tales, and her historical novel Taxi Dancer will be published in 2026.
Connect: Marivi Soliven - website
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