MANILA, PHILIPPINES, JANUARY 20, 2022 — Originally set as an in-person event in Park City, Utah, Sundance Film Festival will premiere its Filipino films in competition Leonor Will Never Die (Ang Pagbabalik ng Kwago) by Martika Escobar and The Headhunter’s Daughter by Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan online from January 20 to 30. 

The Sundance Institute announced last January 5 the decision to move the 38th edition of the Sundance entirely online due to the COVID-19 surge in many parts of the world. Tickets for virtual screenings are available on the festival’s website for audiences across the US.

Competing under the World Cinema Dramatic section is Escobar’s debut feature Leonor Will Never Die. The film will premiere on January 21, 9:30 PM (MST) with a live Q&A with the director and a second screening on January 23, 8:00 AM (MST). Eblahan’s short drama The Headhunter’s Daughter will take part in the Shorts Program 4 section, and will have its premiere starting on January 20, 9:00 AM (MST), available until January 30.

“It has been a while since a Filipino feature film was selected to compete in the prestigious World Cinema Dramatic section of the largest independent film festival in the US, and this time, a young Filipina filmmaker. It is incredible for Philippine Cinema to be represented in Sundance again. We hope that this will only be the start of their film’s journey and may it further inspire the Filipino film industry,” said Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.  

Written and directed by Escobar, Leonor Will Never Die tells the story of Leonor, played by theater actress Sheila Francisco, who becomes an action hero of her own unfinished screenplay. The film also stars Bong Cabrera, Rocky Salumbides, and Anthony Falcon. 

The Headhunter’s Daughter by writer and director Eblahan, is about Lynn, starring Ammin Acha-ur, who leaves her family behind to traverse the harrowing roads of the Cordilleran highlands to try her luck in the city as a country singer. Pablo Quintos and Karla Prol Rev G. Naogsan complete the film’s ensemble. 

Audiences are encouraged to vote for their favorite films at the Sundance Film Festival 2022 by following the prompt available during the streaming. For more details, visit https://festival.sundance.org/howtofest/. 

Since 1978, the annual Sundance has brought artists and audiences together from all over the world, celebrating independent voices and creating a community that supports independent storytelling. 
 

Online Screening Schedule: 

Tickets are available for purchase at festival.sundance.org/tickets (US only).

Leonor Will Never Die (Ang Pagbabalik ng Kwago) 

• Premiere | January 21 (Friday) | 9:30 PM (MST) | With live Q&A with writer-director Martika Escobar 
• Second Screening | January 23 (Sunday) | 8:00 AM (MST)

The Headhunter’s Daughter 

• January 20 (Thursday) | 9:00 AM (MST) | Available until January 30 with the Sundance Explorer Pass