This in-person screening of Inay will be preceded by the short film, DEAR WATSONVILLE:
DEAR WATSONVILLE is a mixed-media documentary offering an intimate glimpse into the lives of the manong generation, the 1st generation of Filipino migrants to arrive en masse in the U.S., as seen through the eyes of their children. It unfolds in 3 distinct vignettes, each focusing on the migration stories and day-to-day experiences of 3 Filipino families. This film distinguishes itself with its experimental use of community-sourced oral histories, archival images, and hand-drawn illustrations. Together, these elements weave a moving narrative about resilience, placemaking, and childhood.
— About INAY —
With the desire to help answer unresolved questions and heal lingering wounds, INAY investigates flawed immigration pathways between the Philippines and Canada that kept so many Filipino children from their mothers.
INAY, which means “mama” in Tagalog, is an intimate and personal look at the experiences and trauma endured by many Filipino Canadians. Filmmaker Thea Loo and her husband Jeremiah Reyes, who is also the film’s cinematographer, explore the intersections of mental health and migrant labor and the effects that continue to be felt years later. Through intimate conversations, INAY aims to bridge the silences and disconnect between the first and second generations of the Filipino community.