+About Us
When Ibrahim, an undocumented Filipino Muslim caregiver who dreams of becoming a drag queen, accidentally kills his patient - Zenaida, his fear of being deported leads him to keep her death a secret.
+About Us
Ibrahim is an undocumented gay, Filipino Muslim who was banished from his hometown in the Philippines for his sexuality. With his new life in Los Angeles, he can now pursue his dreams of becoming a drag queen. By day, he works as an in-house caregiver for Zenaida - an aging, glamorous, and temperamental Filipina diva who suffers from early signs of dementia. At night, he struggles to find the right persona for his drag act. Ibrahim and Zenaida form a deep friendship as they find solace in each other’s company and their inability to let go of their past. Ibrahim’s world comes crashing down when he accidentally causes Zenaida to fall to her death. In fear of being deported, Ibrahim keeps Zenaida’s death a secret. He is left with no choice but to deal with the consequences of his decision.
Director's Statement
As a filmmaker of color, I always make it a point to give a voice to the underrepresented, whenever I can. Being a Filipina immigrant in America, I am very much drawn to stories of the Filipinx diaspora. With the rise of anti-immigration and the crackdown on undocumented immigrants, I want to shed a light on the experiences of undocumented Filipinx in America. Undocumented Filipinx have limited job options and no job security. Oftentimes, they end up working as caregivers. The personal experiences of people I know have inspired this particular story of Ibrahim - an undocumented caregiver who is gay, Filipino, and Muslim.
When I was growing up in the Philippines, I was surrounded by talented artists who were larger than life. They also happened to be part of the LGBTQIA community. They were the artists who inspired me to pursue a career in the arts. They came in many forms - fashion designers, painters, filmmakers, theater directors, actors, dancers, and writers. They have now become my mentors, friends, and family. Queer culture has always had a strong influence on my work. There are a lot of people in my life who are part of the LGBTQIA community. This story, in particular, explores the gay experience and drag culture.
We live in a time where Trump and his message of hate and intolerance have become the norm. Racism, xenophobia, and homophobia are back with a vengeance. Anti-immigration and anti-Islam sentiments are stronger than ever, not just in America, but all over the world. Now, more than ever, this story needs to be told.
This film shows an insight into Filipino culture. It gives the audience access to the Filipinx diaspora that I have become part of. Filipinos are resilient, emotional, and warm-hearted people. We are romantics at heart who have a penchant for the dramatic. We tend to find humor even in the direst circumstances. Amidst adversity, we choose to keep going, through hope, laughter, and the celebration of life.
Ultimately, this is a story about survivors and dreamers. It is about the human spirit’s resilience in pursuit of a dream and a better life. It is also about letting go of your past, embracing your new life, and having the courage to be who you truly are.
Team Members
DIRECTOR
PRODUCER
story editor
CINEMATOGRAPHER
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
EDITOR
AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE CONSERVATORY
At the world-renowned AFI Conservatory, a dedicated group of working professionals from the film and television communities serve as mentors in a hands-on, production-based environment nurturing the talents of tomorrow's storytellers. The Conservatory is consistently recognized as one of the world’s top film schools. Established in 1969, the two-year Master of Fine Arts program provides training in six filmmaking disciplines: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting. With an emphasis on narrative visual storytelling and personal expression, each class breaks into teams that mirror a real production environment. Those teams collaborate on and produce more films than any other graduate level film program.
AFI alumni continually celebrate critical recognition, including recent wins at the Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, and Tony Awards as well as Grand Prizes at the Cannes Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival. Notable alumni include Julie Dash (Daughters of the Dust), Melina Matsoukas (Insecure, Queen & Slim), Rachel Morrison (Black Panther, Mudbound), David Lynch (Twin Peaks, Mulholland Drive), Steve Golin (Spotlight, The Revenant), Darren Aronofsky (Mother!, Black Swan), Terrence Malick (Badlands, The Tree of Life, The Thin Red Line), Sam Esmail (Mr. Robot), Andrea Arnold (Fish Tank, American Honey) and Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman, Monster)
DONATION
All funds will be spent on the following:
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Production expenses
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Location cost
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Set construction
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Fabrication of costumes and props
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Special hair styling and makeup
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Equipment rental
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Props rental and set decoration
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Purchase of 16mm film stock
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Catering and craft services
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Post-production expenses
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Film processing and digital scanning
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Licensing music copyright
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Original music score
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Original music recording
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Color grading
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Post sound
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Data storage
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Closed caption
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Tax Deductions
The American Film Institute is a Government recognized 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization, and holds tax exempt status. Donations made toward ZENAIDA may be tax deductible under Section 170 of the U.S. Tax Code. A letter of acknowledgement from AFI will be sent for all contributions.
Matching Grants
Many companies will match donations made by their employees to non-profit charitable institutions like the American Film Institute. These matching funds can double your donation, or more. Check here to see if your company will match your gift.
Your Human Resources Department will be able to inform you if your employer offers this benefit. If so, please select “My company will match my gift” when donating on the AFI Web Donation Portal. Please contact us for additional help at Zenaida_AFIthesis2020@outlook.com
Donate via Mail
Make check payable to "American Film Institute."
Note "Zenaida #2020" in the check memo.
Send check to:
Thesis #2020, Zenaida
c/o American Film Institute
2021 N. Western Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90027
Donate through AFI
Please Visit Here: https://my.afi.com/dev/contribute2.aspx?don=315&fieldAmt=
· Select In support of AFI Thesis Films in the dropdown menu.
· Make sure “AFI Thesis film 2020-ZENAIDA” is selected in the dropdown menu.
· Fill out your information & donation amount.
· Click "Donate Now."
*Please note, all donations are in USD.