The film offers an in-depth look into the vice president’s journey during the 2022 presidential campaign.
The Sundance Film Festival has just revealed the lineup for its 40th edition. Out of the record-breaking 17,435 entries made from all around the world, encompassing feature-length, short film, and documentary films, only 92 made the cut. Noteworthy among these is Ramona Diaz’s And So It Begins, a film expected to distinguish itself with its distinctive narrative and perspective.
The film, directed by Diaz, known for the award-winning A Thousand Cuts, Motherland, and Imelda, captures the people’s movement in Leni Robredo’s 2022 presidential campaign. It is selected among the 20 films in the Premieres/Documentaries category at a prestigious film festival scheduled for January 2024.
‘And So It Begins’—A Documentary Film About Leni Robredo’s Campaign
In its 40th edition, the Sundance Film Festival 2024, recognized as the premier independent film festival in the United States, is resolutely dedicated to upholding its mission of serving as a distinguished platform for “original storytellers and audiences seeking new voices and fresh perspective.”
Among the distinguished features selected for presentation during Sundance Week in Utah is the documentary film And So It Begins, directed by Ramona Diaz. The film is described on the festival’s website as: “Amidst the traditional pomp and circumstance of Filipino elections, a quirky people’s movement rises to defend the nation against deepening threats to truth and democracy. In a collective act of joy as a form of resistance, hope flickers against the backdrop of increasing autocracy. With the end of Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency and his attacks on democratic institutions like a free independent press, some Filipinos hope for a new beginning. In contrast, others yearned for even more autocracy and a return to an era before the People Power Revolution and the restoration of democracy just a generation before.”
To recall, supporters of the former vice president, known as the “Kakampinks,” spearheaded the Pink Movement. This initiative encompassed house-to-house campaigns, large-scale rallies nationwide, and donation drives, like the Angat Buhay, which eventually evolved into a non-profit organization, sustaining its objectives well beyond the electoral period.
The former president, who is currently the chairman of Angat Buhay and has been actively involved in national and international speaking engagements expressed her congratulations to Diaz for such a significant achievement. “Congratulations to award-winning filmmaker Ramona Diaz. Her latest documentary, ‘And So It Begins’ about our People’s Campaign, made it to the Sundance Film Festival 2024, the largest independent film festival in the US. The movie will premiere this January during Sundance Week in Utah. Hopefully, it will be shown here in the Philippines by April 2024.”
The Sundance Film Festival, scheduled for January 25 to 28 in Park City, Utah, offers a virtual viewing experience for films such as And So It Begins, with ticket prices varying from $25 to $350 based on different packages. For those inclined towards an in-person experience, additional options are available here. Beyond film premieres, the festival will feature engaging panel discussions, daily filmmaker conversations, and various other enriching events that promise a comprehensive celebration of cinematic excellence and thought-provoking discourse.
Cover image credit: @sundancefest
