Fresh from its wins at international film festivals, the documentary film ‘Sama-Dilaut,’ hosted its red carpet Philippine premiere on May 30 at the EDSA Shangri-La Plaza Red Carpet Premiere, Mandaluyong City.
‘Sama-Dilaut’ follows the plight of the semi-nomadic Sama-Badjau people of Mindanao, as they are forced to surrender their sea dwelling life due to armed conflict, environmental degradation, and the rise of commercial fishing in the Sulu Sea. It also highlights the importance of saving the sea as the lives of many depend on it.
The film recently won the Toronto International Women Film Festival, the Berlin Indie Film Festival, and received critical acclaim from other international film festivals.
Seven Ivy Films Director Christine Ramos said, “Telling the stories of the underserved and underrepresented communities of the world is my small contribution, as a woman filmmaker, to the protection of their cultures and way of lives. We have to help avoid the dissemination of indigenous cultures of the world from the fast and overwhelming pace of modernization.â
As part of their ongoing efforts to encourage climate action, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Manila partnered with the filmmakers to host the Philippine premiere followed with an expert panel discussion, titled ‘Beyond the Sulu Sea,’ after the film screening.
ââJust last March 23, Belgium provided a EUR3 million grant to help the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) address the climate crisis. This is because we want more climate ambition worldwide. We increase climate funding to further our efforts towards a new global early warning system for climate-related disasters, because countries like the Philippines suffer most weather extremes due to climate change. ‘Sama Dilaut’ shows this issue and we believe that it is an important conversation to have as well as an awareness to be raised,ââ Belgian Ambassador Michel Parys said.
Moderated by television news anchor Angela Cancio Lagunzad, the panel, comprised of the filmâs director Christine Ramos, Human Right Commission Director Attorney Tom Temprosa, and Michael Venning of Indigenous Communities Learning Center, discussed the creation of the documentary and how the global community can mobilize support to help all underserved communities.
Rhadem Musawah, a known Moro Human Rights Defender and a long-time humanitarian worker in the Philippines, is the Executive Producer of the documentary film; he took his advocacy to new heights with ‘Sama-Dilaut.’
He noted, ââProducing this film was a collaborative effort with friends and allies who believe in my advocacy and the developmental purpose the film serves to the communities in the margin. I have struggled raising funds for topics like these (climate change and indigenous people) but with the help of my friends Christine Ramos, Liza Florida and the rest of our crew along with Seven Ivy Films, Eight Billion Project, MUJER LGBT+ Organization and Indigenous Community Learning Centre (ICLC), we were able to come up with the funds and human workforce to make this film come to life and to show the world what climate change looks like, and what kind of future awaits our future generation.ââ
On the side note, the European Union Delegation in the Philippines will officially open Cine Europa in its 26th year on June 16, with a line up of films from EU member states. Belgiumâs film âRien a Foutreâ will first hit the theaters on June 17, 5PM at the Shangri-La theaters.
