Balikbayan

Cecile moved to the United States in search of a more prosperous life for herself and those she left behind in the Philippines. Now decades later, she lives alone, working the night shift as a nurse, going to bed as the sun rises. Her days are spent in solitude: saying her prayers at church and calling family overseas, her only company. She packs a “Balikbayan” box full of clothes, toys, and goodies to send to those she hasn’t seen in years, some she hasn’t even met yet.

But today is different. Today she is expecting company.

Directed by Rebecca Rajadnya
Produced by Adam Chitayat

Director’s Bio: Rebecca Rajadnya has been working in New York City as a 1st Assistant Camera and Camera Operator for the past decade on projects such as Hustlers, Russian Doll, and Dead Ringers.

After working with many visionary filmmakers, she finds herself wanting to tell her own stories from the perspective of a first generation Asian American woman, an outlook not often seen on screen.
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Using her naturalistic and understated sensibilities, she hopes to put work into the world with a unique perspective that audiences from all cultures can still relate to.

Plays in

Stories Our Moms Never Told

What don’t we know about our mothers? Who are they beyond the defining and confining role of motherhood? This showcase delves into the hidden realms of mothers, soon-to-be mothers, and grandmothers—women with secrets, aches, longings, dreams, and griefs. These are the stories our moms never told.