Miss Bulalacao: A Kineikonic Reconfiguration Of Queer And Social Spaces

Excerpt: Abstract: This study is concerned with how moving images linguistically participate in the meaning-making of queer and the theoretical prospects of New Queer Cinema. The material under investigation is Ara Chawdhury’s regional film Miss Bulalacao (2015) which illustrates the dynamic interactions between its queer character and the three social spaces the character navigates − the family, the community and the Church. Mobilizing Burn’s kineikonic method of metamodal analysis, the study reveals how these spaces are configured with oppressive heteronormativity, but are also actively challenged by the queer’s subversive possibilities, ultimately articulating how the film, as a kineikonic text, renders these spaces as dense sites of resistance and negotiation.

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Breaking Down the Scene: The Binisaya Film Festival

It could be said that Binisaya’s current curatorial culture is an after-effect of the Cebuano New Wave. Some works that define this exciting, eclectic filmmaking era include Jerrold Tarog and Ruel Antipuesto’s Confessional (2007), Remton Zuasola’s one-take drama Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria (2010), Victor Villanueva’s absurdist horror My Paranormal Romance (2011), Ivan Zaldarriaga’s zombie thriller Di Ingon ‘Nato (2011), Ara Chawdhury’s queer magical realist debut feature Miss Bulalacao (2015), Christian Linaban’s stoner comedy Superpsychocebu (2016), along with festival founder Keith Deligero’s Kordero ng Diyos (2012).

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How Do You Make SUPERPSYCHOCEBU?

We are admittedly far from finished. We recognize the real work and real experiment happens now, after the premiere. We have some experience with wide-scale marketing and distribution, thanks to our experience working with Cinema One and the Active Vista film festival. We are also taking tips from the tradition of the Arong Brothers who brought projectors and set up screenings of their film “Ang Manok ni San Pedro,” continued by Keith Deligero and the Binisaya film festival with its guerilla screenings. We’re glad for the establishment of Cinematheques and small screening spaces all over the provinces and have reached out for screenings in Davao, Dumaguete, and General Santos, for example. We are also open to bookings and screening requests.

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