KALW Public Media's Solidarity Cinema brings an hour-long program of queer Filipino short films to its Financial District studio on Friday, August 28 — sliding-scale tickets, NOTAFLOF policy, proceeds to mutual aid in the Philippines.
KALW Public Media hosts Solidarity Cinema this Friday, August 28, at its Studio Event Space inside the Mills Building — an hour-long program of three short films by queer Filipino filmmakers, with proceeds split between mutual aid efforts in the Philippines and the station itself. Doors at 7:30 p.m., program 8:00–9:30 p.m. Tickets are $5–$25 on a sliding scale, with a NOTAFLOF policy (No One Turned Away For Lack of Funds): pay what you can at checkout.
The three films span four decades of queer Filipino cinema. Yakap (2016, dir. Margo Manalo, 13 min.) follows Alee through an unexpected encounter that upends her plan to come out to her conservative mother — the drama plays mostly in what goes unsaid. Leslie, Germie, Benjie, Trixie (2025, dir. Allen A. Prodigalidad, 22 min.) is the newest work: four science high school students navigating a capstone project, an oppressive principal, and questions about identity, all at once. The anchor is Oliver (1983, dir. Nick Deocampo, 33 min.), a documentary portrait of a dancer who supports his family by performing in Manila's gay bars. Combined runtime: 68 minutes.
KALW describes Solidarity Cinema as an archive of films documenting solidarity, struggle, and social movements — "radical cinema as a tool for learning, collective action, and change." Proceeds from this screening go to mutual aid in the Philippines and to KALW Public Media.
The venue — 220 Montgomery St., SF 94104, inside the Mills Building — is a few minutes' walk from Montgomery St. BART/Muni Station at Market. Don't drive; parking in the Financial District on a Friday evening isn't worth the hassle. This is KALW's working studio space, not a cinema — expect an intimate setup. Refunds are available up to two days before the event.
Three films, 68 minutes, $5 minimum.
Tickets at Eventbrite.

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