A short film by award-winning Western Sydney writer/director Vonne Patiag that celebrates Blacktown’s Filipino culture through the eyes of a little boy named Justin will be shown on Thursday, 19 April at 7.30pm.
This special night is the theatrical premiere of the film at Riverside Parramatta. In English and Tagalog, ‘Tomgirl’ stars cabaret icon and performer Marcus Rivera, actress and artist Ala Paredes, and introduces local actor Callan Young.
The story
A young Filipino boy in Western Sydney gets an enchanting crash-course in his homeland culture when his uncle reveals himself to be a cross-dresser in the ‘bakla’ tradition.
Starring Marcus Rivera, Ala Paredes and introducing young local actor Callan Young, this inspiring film is a celebration of the Filipino culture of Blacktown.
The ten-minute film is followed by a Q&A with Patiag, Rivera and Paredes.
The Director
Patiag is an award-winning filmmaker based in Western Sydney whose previous films include ‘Window’ (Best Film St Kilda Filmmaker Challenge 2016), ‘The Dead Man’s Face Was My Own’ (Best Film Made In The West 2016) and whose films have screened across Australia from Revelation Perth, BOFA Tasmania, Dungog, Noosa, SUFF and more.
Funding
‘Tomgirl’ was funded through SBS Australia and Create NSW’s Generator Emerging Filmmaker Fund 2017. Screen NSW CJZ TV #GEFF2017.
Supporting the film project are the Community Partners Blacktown Arts, Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE), and the Filipino community of Blacktown.
TOMGIRL
A short film
Language: Tagalog and English with English subtitles
Classification: Ages 15+ unless accompanied by a parent or guardian
Screening Dates & Times: Thursday 19 April 2018 at 7:30pm
Admission: $10 or $8 concession
