Through its blossoming partnership with The Japan Foundation, Manila, and the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC), the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is all set to go beyond its borders and conquer cultural barriers with Visions of Asia film screenings.

Exploring the depths of identities encompassing Asia are  SOLIDS BY THE SEASHORE by Patiparn Boontarig and DitO by Takashi Yuki.

Set in a Southern Thai town, SOLIDS BY THE SEASHORE is a queer love story challenging Islamic traditions. The film revolves around two women of varying backgrounds. Strange otherworldly occurrences gradually start to happen, instilling fear and doubt in the characters. Ultimately, a pivotal moment pushes them to forge a path for themselves and wholeheartedly accept their identities.

Solids by the Seashore is Boontarig’s first feature film inspired by his shorts and documentaries on the construction of seawalls. On his trip to South Thailand, he learns of the struggles that his Muslim friends in same-sex relationships currently face. Boontarig combines his passion for defending LGBTQIA+ rights and spreading awareness on coastal erosion.

Solids by the Seashore will be screened for free on August 6, 2:30 p.m., at Ayala Malls Manila Bay Cinema 9.

Brought by The Japan Foundation Manila, DitO centers on a man who placed his fate on his fists. He abandons his family and friends to chase his dream of boxing around the world. Upon realizing his career is ending, he reunites with his daughter in a foreign country, the Philippines. DitO showcases the intimacy of an awkward growing bond between father and daughter who haven’t been in each other’s lives for years.

Aiming for authenticity, Yuki stars and directs in DitO. He took up the sport for a role six years ago, resulting in actual sparring instead of delicate fighting sequences. DitO’s handheld camerawork and oversaturated color palette convey the realities of an aging boxer. In Filipino, the word “dito” directly translates to “here” but is often rendered as “ibasho (somewhere one belongs)” in Japanese. Yuki keeps this in mind as he steps into the shoes of the protagonist.

Set in the vast world of Philippine boxing, Yuki’s directorial debut film will be screened for free on August 7, 2 p.m., at Ayala Malls Manila Bay Cinema 2.

For the past years, Cinemalaya and The Japan Foundation Manila partner to celebrate the shared culture and storied past between the Philippines and Japan.  While honoring its commitment to showcasing the Filipino identity through cinema, the esteemed film festival harbors cherished bonds with neighboring countries amid language and cultural barriers.

Speaking through the universal language of passion and creativity, Cinemalaya’s partnership with NETPAC and Japan Foundation Manila is expected to expand every nation’s love for culture and the arts.