AND SO IT BEGINS

A follow-up to her award-winning documentary on the trials and tribulations of Philippine journalist Maria Ressa (who also won the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize), director Ramona Diaz looks at the months leading up to the country’s 2022 presidential election, as a tidal wave of marginalized citizens take to the streets in support of a change from the reign of Rodrigo Duerte to help the campaign for the eldest son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, affectionately known as Bongbong. His campaign strategy consists mostly of an unrelenting and vicious social media campaign against his opponent, then-current Vice-President of the Philippines, Leni Robredo. Diaz continues to portray the Philippines within the framework of the legacy of martial law imposed under Marcos, who created a terrifying and violent period that lasted for 21 years. With her keen observational eye and deep knowledge, the director continues to find her own forms of storytelling as political disruption. HIFF is honored to welcome director Ramona Diaz to the festival as part of the New American Perspectives program in partnership with the Vilcek Foundation. Diaz will be in attendance for a special post-screening Q&A.