PHLAFF Week Cuatro — SEVERE WEATHER UPDATES & Virtual Programming
With a major heat wave coming our way this weekend, our Week Cuatro schedule has shifted due to safety concerns. Read ahead to learn more!
Due to the heat advisories for Philadelphia this weekend, our film screenings at Cherry Street Pier events for Friday (June 21st) and Saturday (June 22nd) will be rescheduled for in-person screenings later this summer. However, worry not! Some films will be available 24 HOURS ONLY for virtual screening, so you can still enjoy while you hide from the heat. In any case, all originally-programmed films will be shown in person at a later date.
Our Thursday event is still on at PhillyCAM, one of our collaborators this festival season. Come indulge in magical realism with our shorts block of 3 films, as well as other shorts we have in store.
Additionally, all week, you can savor our POSITIVE CHANGE shorts block and FAMILY: IN MEMORY shorts block on our virtual platform, as well as features, Flora, Incompatible With Life, and Neirud.
We appreciate your support as we adapt to the circumstances. We look forward to a great, warm Week Cuatro!
Check out our virtual offerings that are available until Saturday at 11:59 PM EST below!
Week Cuarto Virtual Programming:
LOS SHORTS — positive change
The Bee: A Reflection on Women, Land, and Occupation
This documentary follows a feminist group of women beekeepers living on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. Twenty years have passed since the US Navy stopped using Vieques as a bombing range. Still, the locals continue to live through the legacy of a military that savagely displaced the population and affected the use of their land. Through an ethnographic approach, we accompany the women of the “Colmena Cimarrona” (Maroon Beehive) during one week of their work as they aim to revitalize the land via agriculture and beekeeping.
SHURA
Shura, is a story of an octogenarian woman’s powerful commitment and mission in providing aid to migrants crossing the border and helping to save lives in the harsh and ruthless elements of the Arizona desert.
LOS SHORTS — Family: In memory
Para Esteban
Gregorio, Dolores, and Zoila are three elders excited about the arrival of a new member to the family; Esteban, their great-grandson. Through the memories of their ancestors, they narrate themes of loneliness, love, union, loss, and hope. They search through their belongings for a special gift to leave to a future Esteban, who may never know them as an adult. The short film itself is a gift that will make them endure in their family history.
xo, Marisol
Luna, a young Latina who often daydreams about a more exciting life while working at her mother's diner, is thrilled to discover an old diary written by Marisol, a Mexican woman from the 1970s. Instantly captivated, Luna imagines herself in Marisol’s adventures, inadvertently neglecting her work responsibilities. In a heated argument fueled by the diary's distractions, Luna's mother confiscates it, leaving their relationship deeply strained. As Luna spends time without the diary, she reflects upon her relationship with her mother, her personal ambitions, and her family obligations. Through a heartfelt apology, Luna successfully repairs the bond with her mother, fostering an understanding of their respective needs and desires.
Ruiz
In a tapestry woven from heartfelt moments among family and friends, a series of events paint a profound narrative on love, loss, and resilience. At the core of these memories is Kcey, a spirited young woman of Puerto Rican and African American heritage. Her infectious spirit and uniquely endearing laugh became her signature, filling every room with infectious energy and joy. As a child, Kcey's spirited antics foreshadowed her future strength; she later emerged as a formidable member of the Air Force. Recollections from her mother, father, sister, childhood friend, and a battle buddy capture the essence of Kcey, from her infectious laughter to her cherished moments under the Afghan sunsets. Each memory serves as a testament to a life lived passionately. However, heartbreak strikes when, amid war, a plane crashes, claiming Kcey's life. As they grapple with this devastating loss, her loved ones oscillate between despair and denial, occasionally seeking refuge in work or the numbing embrace of alcohol. Yet, as they collectively mourn, they discover solace in their shared memories of Kcey's radiant spirit. They make a choice: to live every day with Kcey's presence alive in their hearts, ensuring her laughter, joy, and zest for life are never forgotten.
Last Rights
Amanda helps take care of her comatose grandmother under nurse supervision when her out of town relative, Gabriela, arrives to say goodbye. Without Amanda's knowledge, Gabriela invited a priest over to the house to perform last rites since their grandmother is now in hospice. They argue about the need for the service but Gabriela wins out and the priest performs the rites. For the next week, Amanda and Gabriela barely interact aside from watching over their grandmother together. On Sunday, Amanda brews tea when the priest returns per Gabriela's request. He counsels Amanda to be kinder to her cousin, who is also struggling with the impending death of their grandmother while Gabriela gets him something to drink. He reads a prayer but suddenly collapses to the ground and Amanda realizes he was given the mug she set aside for herself which had crushed sleeping pills in it. The week's tension breaks as Amanda and Gabriela outright fight about the situation, ultimately resigning themselves to wait until the priest wakes up. They're able to talk honestly and come to realize they're grateful for the other's company when the hospice nurse returns and is startled to find them with an unconscious priest.
LOS features
Flora
FLORA is a collective memoir interweaving the stories of visionaries and warriors who have to teach themselves about love and tenderness in a world dominated by unnecessary suffering and hurt.
Incompatible with Life
From a personal experience of a pregnancy that had a diagnosis of fetal malformation incompatible with life, director Eliza Capai spoke with other women who had gone through a similar situation, creating a powerful and touching choir of voices that reflects on universal themes: motherhood, prenatal grief and abortion. They are all from Brazil, a place where abortion in these cases can lead to up to three years in prison.
Neirud
Neirud died shrouded in mystery, leaving behind no trace of her past. Confronting family secrets, the filmmaker pieces together the life of her enigmatic aunt, who toured Brazil as a wrestler in an underground all-female circus troupe throughout the 60s and 80s. As she investigates Neirud’s controversial ring persona, Gorilla Woman, the filmmaker uncovers a fascinating story about race, identity and queer life.
