3:00 - 5:30
Step into the whimsical world of Marichin Marukoy, a shapeshifter from the mystical island of Isla de Panamao. “Marichin Marukoy, Mangayo Ko’g Asin! (May I Have Some Salt)” is an English-Bisaya bilingual book by Filipina filmmaker, Ara Chawdhury, that tells the story of Marichin, a mountain-dwelling shapeshifter who is learning to master her magic.
This special event will feature a Bisaya and English reading of the book performed by surprise, fabulous guest readers. It will also feature a first look of the magical stop motion film-in-progress based on the book, followed by a panel discussion with the filmmaker and her collaborators exploring the world of Marichin Marukoy, its roots in Filipino Folklore, Philippine Cottage Core or “Bukid Core”, and its expression through sets, costumes and doll customization.
There will be free coloring pages and activities for children, making this event a fun-filled time for families and kids-at-heart. Don’t miss out!
Ara Chawdhury (she/her) is an award-winning Filipina-Desi writer, director, producer, musician, translator, and author. She tells stories in English, Filipino, and Cebuano. Her work has been showcased at the New York Asian Film Festival in 2012 and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) Best of Philippine Cinema program in 2016. Ara recently shared her expertise on Filipino screenwriting at the January 2025 Division of Filipinx Americans (DoFA) Conference at UC Davis.
Connect:
Ara Chawdhury - Website | Ara Chawdhury - Instagram
Christian Linaban (he/him) is a multi-awarded Filipino director, cinematographer, editor and musician. One of the pioneers of the BINISAYA Cebuano New Wave Movement with a Gawad Urian for his cinematography on long take film Damgo ni Eleuteria, he is always looking for new ways to experiment with form.
Connect:
champoy (hey/them/he/him/siya) is a queer interdisciplinary artist, weaving narrative through film, installation, and performance. They have received numerous awards and citations and now serve as a parent, a co-creator at The School for the Ecocene and an educator for Bay Area youth.
Connect:
Jared Gochuico (he/him) is a Filipino American technical artist and engineer who has designed projects like collapsible wooden caves and dragon puppets for Bindlestiff Theater and Hungry Ghost Festival in San Francisco. His hobbies include painting, video game design, and 3D printing set designs for impactful productions that share AAPI heritage.
Connect:
Angie Chaparro (they/them) is a Colombian stop motion animator and puppet fabricator who earned their BA in Animation at the California College of the Arts. Their thesis film, "Pajarito" received multiple awards and citations, premiering internationally at the Lonely Wolf Film Festival in 2023 where it was semifinalist for best animated film.
Connect:
Jethro Patalinghug (they/them) is a Filipino nonbinary artist and filmmaker dedicated to queer rights and social justice. With an MFA from MICA, they spotlight BIPOC and LGBTQ+ stories through film and visual art. Their documentary #MyNameIs chronicled drag activists’ protest of Facebook’s name policy. Jethro’s work has been featured at Oaklash and the Trans Aware Art Exhibition. As drag persona “Virginia Please,” they create educational TikToks amplifying Indigenous, Black, and Brown queer/trans voices. A 2024 IDFA Producer’s Connection fellow, they also serve on the boards of GAPA, Oaklash, and the Center for Immigrant Protection to uplift and empower their communities.
Connect:
Noni Ramirez (they/them) is a trans Filipina and Indo-Fijian creative, activist and performer committed to serving their community and fighting for trans rights, queer rights and the rights of all marginalized communities. They take pride in both of their cultures, using it as an outlet to express themselves in their works and in life. Noni has worked with the trans march, lotus project, and qtappi week organizations helping uplift qtaapi & bipoc voices. At night you may see Noni work as drag performer “Tsunomi Punoni” who uses their trans identity to help uplift trans voices and empower their babaylan community. Babaylan culture has been in the process of being erased due to colonialism, so Noni finds it very important to make sure we still honor our traditions of ancestral culture and share it with those around us.
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