METAMORPHOSIS: First Filipino intersex film screened at UPB

The film "Metamorphosis" was screened on this year's Cinemakulay Film Festival Baguio last February 27 at the Teatro Amianan.

​Individuals from different universities gathered for the screening of the first Filipino film about intersexuality, “Metamorphosis.” This Cinema One Originals entry revolved on the life of an intersex individual.

​Jose Enrique Tiglao, the director of the film, said during the question and answer portion of the event that he was very careful about the representation of the intersex people in  his film.

Direk J.E answering questions during the Q&A

“Ang first Filipino film about Intersex, hindi ito biro. Puwede 'kong ma-misrepresent sila. For me, hindi kakayanin ng konsensiya ko ‘pag pinalabas ‘yung pelikula tapos ang unang mamba-bash sa akin ay intersex people kasi ginawa ko ‘tong pelikula para sa kanila,” he mentioned.

(As the first Filipino film about intersex, [making it] was no joke. I might misrepresent them [intersex people]. I won't be able to handle it if upon releasing the movie and the intersex people are the first ones to bash it because I made this film for them.)

​Director Tiglao added that the whole movie is a "metamorphosis" in itself. Every cinematic element underwent change starting from the aspect ratio to the musical score.

​“Nung kinausap ko ‘yung executive producer ko, ‘yung cinematographer ko, sabi ko this is about a metamorphosis. Pagme-metamorphosis ng isang tao, pagdiskubre ng kanyang pagkatao. So lahat dapat ng elemento ng pelikula nagme-metamorphosis din,” he explained.

(When I spoke with my executive producer, my cinematographer, I told them that this is about metamorphosis. How a person metamorphosizes , how they discover themselves. So all the elements of the film needs to metamorphosize. )

Bahaghari UP Baguio hosted this year's Cinemakulay Film Festival event in Baguio. Along with "Metamorphosis", another Direk JE's film, "Onang" was shown in the event. "Onang" was a short film entry for Cinemalaya in  2013.

By: Alyssa Castañares and Corrine Evangelista