2025 Diwa Filipino Film Fest - Saysay at Salaysay (Meaning and Story)

Life stories and reflections on our history.

Ancestors by Emilio Virata (4 min, United States, 2024, English) - A filmmaker's efforts to see if they can convey their feelings about family, ancestry, and connections through film.

Dear Watsonville by Sandra Lucille (17 min, United States, 2024, English) - “Dear Watsonville” is a mixed-media documentary offering an intimate glimpse into the lives of the manong generation, the first generation of Filipino migrants to arrive en masse to the U.S., as seen through the eyes of their children.

Her Wish: The Museum of Estrella by Marvin Peyton & Royce Pataras (15 min, United States, 2024, English) - Her Wish: The Museum of Estrella follows the efforts of the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago to preserve the legacy of Estrella Alamar, a pioneer in Filipino American history. The film highlights the importance of engaging younger generations in cultural preservation to ensure their history survives.

Kuna ni Nanang (My Mother Said) by Jessica Sison (5 min, United States, 2008, English & Ilocano w/ English Subs) - In this day and age, when everything is documented and even cell phones have cameras, one woman has no souvenirs or photos of her beloved mother.

How Much Filipino by Greg Roensch (4 min, United States, 2024, English) - Throughout his life, when discussing his family background with others, Director/Writer Greg Roensch has often been asked, “How much Filipino are you?” This film was inspired by that question.

Searching for Kapwa by Larry Daguino Lariosa & Terrence Marcotte (63 min, United States, 2023, English) - Inspired by the pre-colonial Filipino value kapwa, or “shared identity”, Searching for Kapwa follows the filmmaker’s quest to understand his ancestral roots, heal from a sense of cultural alienation, and find his place in the arc of history.

Host or Publisher Diwa Filipino Film Festival