30 June 2025 – The Philippine Consulate General in Calgary (Calgary PCG) in collaboration with Fiesta Filipino, and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) held the first SineMa Calgary Multicultural Film Festival on 29 June 2025 at the historic Plaza Theatre in Kensington, Calgary, Alberta Canada.
The Film Festival unfolded in two powerful segments. The first half, titled “REALIDAD,” spotlighted three compelling short-form documentaries by emerging and award-winning Filipino and Filipino-Canadian filmmakers, reflecting the complexities, resilience, and lived realities of the Filipino diaspora in Canada:
- “Ahon” delved into the inspiring story of the K8 Mountaineering Club of Alberta, a close-knit group of Filipino outdoor enthusiasts whose passion for alpine and mountain climbing is matched by their commitment to community-building, cultural pride, and environmental stewardship. Filipino values of working hard, resilience, and “pakikipagkapwa tao” shine bright in this film directed by Trixie Pacis, with cinematography by Trixie Pacis, Jomarie Anza, Carlo Alcos, Leonard Maglalang, and Patrick Belmonte.
- “disABLEd”, directed by award-winning director Paolo Oliveros, a moving and unflinching portrayal of lived experiences within the differently abled community was met with much acclaim, having earlier won two major awards at the 5th 2025 FascinASIAN Film Festival in Calgary for tis bold storytelling and inclusive perspective.
- “AKLAS” offered an inside look into the creative evolution of the FilipinX-Canadian “comic book” of the same title, set in a reimagined futuristic Mega Manila. The documentary, directed by Harvey Nichol, a Calgary-based Filipino visual artist, traces the development of the graphic novel but also captures the pulse of the Filipino diasporic identity and resistance in art.
“Realidad” was followed by a 30-minute panel discussion with the producers / film makers of the three documentaries.
The second segment of the Fil Festival featured a special screening of the critically acclaimed Filipino Film “SONATA” (2013), directed by the late Peque Gallaga, and Lore Reyes. The film, starring the late and beloved Cherie Gil, enchanted the audiences with its poetic narrative of healing, music, and rediscovery beautifully set against the backdrop of Negros Occidental.
SONATA tells the story of a world-renowned soprano who lost her voice and her career and finds redemption in reconnecting with her roots in the Philippines and an endearing friendship with a young boy. In introducing the film, Consul General Emma Sarne reflected on the power of SONATA to connect Filipinos everywhere, particularly those who know what it means to live between cultures, to lose connection with their roots, and their sense of place or purpose. She further mentioned that the film, which screening was made possible through the Philippine Embassies Assistance Program (PEAP) of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), reminds the diaspora that heritage is not only about what is celebrated, but also about what is recovered.
SineMa, short for Sine Mabuhay, is a multicultural film festival that aims to celebrate the diverse cultural narratives that live and work in the city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It also serves as a platform for emerging Filipino-Canadian filmmakers to share their work and be celebrated within a wider community of moviegoers in Canada. As a first-of-its-kind multicultural film initiative in Calgary, it opened new space for dialogue, appreciation, and community through the universal language of film.
A total of around 120 viewers were present during the Film Festival, which included representatives from the Calgary Consular Corps, the City of Calgary, and Filipino-Canadian Film lovers.
