In this video, Neil Torfil, Executive Director of FASCIINE (Filipino Arts and Cinema International), outlines the organization’s nearly 30‑year history as the longest‑running independent Filipino film festival in the United States. He explains that the pandemic and a broader downturn in events forced the festival into a hiatus to reassess its mission, format, and to prioritize personal and family well‑being. Despite these challenges, FASCIINE remains committed to empowering emerging Filipino artists, preserving Filipino culture through cinema, and building a global network of filmmakers and scholars. The segment then shifts to Maria Isabel Lopez, Marketing and External Affairs Director and veteran actress, who emphasizes the festival’s role as a cultural lifeline for Filipinos in California and worldwide. She highlights ongoing funding shortfalls exacerbated by the pandemic and makes a direct appeal for donations via a GoFundMe campaign to sustain the festival’s platform for independent Filipino filmmakers.
Chapters
Hi, I'm Neil Torfil, Executive Director of FASCIINE, Filipino Arts and Cinema International, the longest-running independent film festival of Filipino films in the United States and the only festival of its kind outside of the Philippines. Last year was a tough year for all of us. Amidst the downturn of events and lack of funding, we decided to take a hiatus to reevaluate our mission, format, observe the future of how films are being shown, but most importantly, to bring more focus to our families and our personal lives, considering the devastation many of us were experiencing firsthand. Despite this, we continue to thrive and evolve as an organization. For almost 30 years, we have been dedicated to empowering emerging artists and diverse storylines to create films that speak about Filipino communities globally. By promoting cinema as a social document of Filipino culture and heritage, and as a medium of artistic expression. We work to strengthen and sustain our network of film artists and scholars who provide a vibrant voice for Filipino communities everywhere. We strive to engage generations of artists to portray the complexities of Philippine realities, evolve the craft of filmmaking, and develop audiences for Filipino cinema in the United States and across the world. Fascine has thrived throughout the years and has evolved amidst the most challenging of times. Here's Maria Isabel Lopez, our Marketing and External Affairs Director, to talk about our present mission.
Hi, Maria Isabel Lopez here. Being an actress for almost 4 decades, I'm very excited to be a part of Fascine. Today, we risk losing the longest-running Filipino film festival in America. This festival is a lifeline to so many Filipinos in California and across the world. It is our direct connection to our homeland. The stories that our festival brings creates a community that fosters a spirit of appreciation for our culture and heritage. But funding continues to be our main challenge, especially in this pandemic. So please help us continue to preserve the voice and craft of Filipino independent filmmakers. Donate to our GoFundMe today to allow us to continue to provide a stage for Filipino filmmakers to share their stories on the global stage. Once again, Maria Isabel Lopez here, and mabuhay!
