Berne, 02 December 2017 – The Philippine Embassy in Berne partnered with Samahang Pilipina Bern (SP-Bern), a group which promotes the rights and welfare of Filipinas in Switzerland, in sponsoring the screening of the film, “Sunday Beauty Queen” at ABC Cinema in Berne. The screening was in solidarity with the worldwide campaign to end VAW.
“Sunday Beauty Queen” is a compelling documentary film that delves into the lives of Filipina domestic workers in Hong Kong as they find fulfillment through beauty pageants, which serve as a form of escape from their dreary lives. The film aims to address the systemic/structural violence, laws and practices that may cause discrimination or abuse of migrant domestic workers.
The film won Best Film at the Manila Film Festival in 2016 and the best international documentary award at the recently held 5th London Labor Film Festival. It was also chosen for screening at the selective Busan Asian Film Festival 2017. The film was directed by Baby Ruth Villarama and produced by Chuck Gutierrez for Voyage Films.
Sr. Mary John Mananzan shares her insights about the film during the public forum
The film showing was followed by a public forum in which the Embassy also participated. One of the speakers invited by SP Bern was a noted women’s rights advocate, Sr. Mary John Mananzan, Order of St. Benedict (OSB), who was cited in 2011 as one of the 100 Most Inspiring Persons in the World on the occasion of the centennial celebration of International Women’s Day. END
