Asia Society at the Movies: Filipino Animators
VIEW EVENT DETAILSAnimation Shorts ‘Josephine’ by Avid Liongoren and ‘Blush’ by Joe Mateo
Screening and Conversation
Register Now
Join Asia Society at the Movies for an engaging evening to celebrate animation by two Filipino artists, showcasing the touching short films Josephine (2016) by Avid Liongoren and Blush (2021) by Joe Mateo.
Visually alluring and filled with heart, both shorts touch upon personal discovery, as the characters experience love, loss, and healing. In Josephine, a mysterious woman watches her house burn down and goes on a cathartic journey. In Blush, a horticulturist-astronaut discovers the joy of building a new life after encountering an ethereal visitor on a desolate planet.
Following the screening, listen to Liongoren and Mateo’s conversation sharing personal insights about their short films, incorporating Filipino culture into their work, and the future of animation in the Philippines, among other topics.
Speakers
Avid Liongoren directs live action and animation productions. A veteran in Philippine advertising, he is the founder of Rocketsheep, a small indie studio comprising artists who specialize in illustration, animation, and friendsheep. Their first film, Saving Sally, took twelve years to make. Completed with funding support from the Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée of the French Ministry of Culture, it won several international awards from the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival, Fantasporto of Portugal, and the Seoul International Cartoon and Animation Festival, among others. Their second film, Hayop Ka! (You Animal!), was the first film from the Philippines selected to compete at the prestigious Annecy Festival in France as well as the very first Filipino animated feature purchased by Netflix. Rocketsheep is currently working on Zsazsa Zatturnnah vs the Amazonistas of Planet X, which they hope to share with the universe by 2024.
Joe Mateo is an Emmy Award winner who has worked in feature animation for three decades. Mateo was recruited by Skydance Animation in 2019 and his short Blush served as the studio’s first release. A proud Filipino-American who immigrated to the United States in 1992, Mateo got his first big break with Pocahontas, and his 25 years at Walt Disney Feature Animation took him from in-between work on beloved classics from Mulan, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Tarzan—as well as The Emperor’s New Groove and Treasure Planet—to his role as story artist on such hits as Bolt, Tangled, Zootopia and Wreck-It Ralph.
Carina Evangelista (moderator) is Deputy Director for Asia Society Museum and Global Artistic Programs.
How to Watch the Films
On February 28 at 8 p.m. New York time (March 1 at 9 a.m. Manila time), Josephine and Blush will be streamed via Eventive, to precede the virtual conversation with animators Avid Liongoren and Joe Mateo. Register now.
Outside of the above viewing window, Joesphine is currently available to stream on Vimeo. Blush is currently available to stream on Apple TV+.
Josephine
USA | 4 minutes | 2016
Genre: Animation
Director and Producer: Avid Liongoren
Studio Producer: Rocketsheep Studio
Art, Animation, and Editing: Jether Amar and Jethro Razo
Script: Paulle Olivenza
Sound Design: Mikko Quizon
Foley Support: Karla Badong
Music: Len Calvo
Blush
USA | 10 minutes | 2021
Genre: Animation
Director and Writer: Joe Mateo
Producers: Heather Schmidt Feng Yanu
Language: English
Screening event courtesy Apple TV+ and Rocketsheep Studio
This program is presented by Asia Society Museum, Asia Society Philippines, and Asia Society Southern California as part of a series titled Asia Society at the Movies.
Promotional Partner
Animation Council of the Philippines
Asia Society at the Movies
Asia Society at the Movies is a series of film screenings and conversations showcasing a broad range of films and filmmakers from across Asia and the Asian diaspora. Asia Society at the Movies celebrates established and emerging voices, contemporary films and classics, and documentaries. The series builds on Asia Society’s long and rich history of film programming. This initiative also serves to deepen understanding of Asian cultures—a core part of Asia Society’s mission since its creation. Learn more about the Asia Society at the Movies initiative.
About Asia Society Museum
Asia Society Museum presents a wide range of traditional, modern, and contemporary exhibitions of Asian and Asian American art, taking new approaches to familiar masterpieces and introducing under-recognized arts and artists. The Asia Society Museum Collection comprises a traditional art collection, including the initial bequests of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd, and a contemporary art collection. Through exhibitions and public programs, Asia Society provides a forum for the issues and viewpoints reflected in both traditional and contemporary Asian art and in Asia today.
About Asia Society Philippines
Asia Society Philippines aims to strengthen relationships, deepen understanding, and bridge differences across the Philippines, Asia, and the West. Dedicated in helping create a more collaborative shared future, they develop cross-sector programs that bring together peoples, leaders, and institutions across the fields of business and policy, leadership, education, arts and culture, sustainability, and technology especially encouraging dialogue and fostering new partnerships. The Philippine Center presents the uniqueness and diversity of cultures and has developed special programs that represent the culture and achievements of Filipino culture.
About Asia Society Southern California
Established in Los Angeles in 1985, Asia Society Southern California (ASSC) is ideally situated at the gateway to the Asia-Pacific region. ASSC has played a pivotal role through creative programs and activities in increasing shared knowledge, enhancing dialogue, and furthering cultural exchanges transcending regional boundaries. As part of the global Asia Society, which was founded more than 60 years ago in New York City, ASSC has launched many creative initiatives and programs addressing current issues of importance across the fields of the arts, culture, policy, business, and education.