INCITE—Programme Two (PART 2)

With the use of stop-motion and hand-drawn animation, artists could make films without the large crews that are necessary for commercial filmmaking. If an artist wanted to comment on social issues, this approach allowed him or her to do so directly and relatively more easily. This two-part programme features Southeast Asian experimental animations which provoke, incite and address critical issues in society. The line-up includes films by renowned Indonesian filmmaker Gotot Prakosa, the legendary Philippine animator Roxlee, and Tadhana, the first full-length Philippine animated film directed by Nonoy Marcelo.

Part 1 and Part 2 of this programme are ticketed separately, with different screening times and venues.

 

PART 2: TADHANA BY NONOY MARCELO 

TADHANA

By Nonoy Marcelo

Philippines | In Filipino and English with English subtitles | 1978 | 54 min | Digital file transferred from U-matic, copied from Betamax recording of TV broadcast of 35mm film edited on U-matic | NC16 (Some Nudity)

International Premiere

Directed by the cartoonist Nonoy Marcelo, Tadhana is the first Philippine full-length animated film. It was commissioned to be based on the book of the same name on the history of the Filipino people. The book’s author is credited as the authoritarian and then-President Ferdinand Marcos, but was actually ghostwritten by other historians. The film presents a satirical, humorous and poignant view of the Philippines’ history of Spanish colonisation through highly original and surreal vignettes fusing art, mythology and music. Several artists collaborated, voiced characters and appear in the film. Noted printmaker Pandy Aviado served as the film’s assistant director while Santiago Bose was one of the film’s many animators.

Tadhana premiered on Philippine television during the anniversary of Martial Law in 1978 before the original 35mm film reel mysteriously disappeared. The only known copy of the film left is a recording on Betamax tape by film archivist Teddy Co, made during the film’s live broadcast. The tape was transferred to U-matic, and this U-matic tape has been digitised, translated and subtitled by Mowelfund Film Institute for this programme. This is its first screening outside the Philippines.