Presented by sf urban film fest

Sa

Amin

Our Place

Filipino community activists and multigenerational families in San Francisco’s South of Market claim a right to the city as they battle displacement caused by urban renewal, real estate speculation and tech booms, and in doing so sustain the cultural heart of the Filipino-American community

Synopsis

The “Sa Amin: Our Place” documentary is the untold story of Filipinos in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood, the cultural heart of the Filipino-American community. The film tells the story of how Filipino activists, artists and intergenerational families are claiming a right to the city, battling against displacement caused by urban renewal, real estate speculation, and tech booms. It features powerful interviews of current residents and community leaders covering decades of organizing, including Teresa Dulalas who challenged eviction after eviction; teacher and parent, Tina Alejo, who fought to keep open the Filipino bilingual program; and Janine Lacap, part of the next generation of leaders. “Sa Amin” also features archival footage from the 1970s by the late Filipino documentary filmmaker Sam Tagatac, never seen until now. Telling this story will change the larger narrative about San Francisco and help the South of Market’s Filipino community claim physical spaces- to save homes and to sustain it as a cultural hub.

Directed by

Dyan Ruiz and Nix Guirre

Produced By

[people.power.media]

Fay Darmawi

Executive Producer

SF Urban Film Fest

MUSIC COMPOSER and SOUND DESIGN

Rachel Lasitmosa

Interviewees

Raquel Redondiez, Mary Ann Masagca, Tina Alejo, Teresa Dulalas, Janine Lacap, Marti Dulalas, Alleluia Panis, MC Canlas, Tony Grafilo, Bob Ilumin, Ron Muriera, Jeanne Batallones, Angelica Cabande

Film Length

41 minutes

awards and laurels

DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of Oregon 2024
Sa Amin Film Poster

Film ScreeninG

Our Place in the Park | May 27, 2023 | 2–6 PM | Tickets are live on May 1st

Join us at the Victoria Manalo Draves Park for a free and open to the public festive ritual that gathers intergenerational families, artists and activists for a community celebration. Investment in the positive activation of public space is a proven method to support economic activity, strengthen existing communities, build bridges between diverse groups, and build empathy and connection at a larger neighborhood and city-wide level. It is important to share stories of resilience and community organizing, helping us see a path forward that is more compassionate and inclusive. The location for the mini-fair is significant for the Filipino community because the park itself is named after the Filipina Gold medal Olympic diver, Victoria Manalo Draves, and it is adjacent to the future site of the SOMA Pilipinas Gateway arch, a joyful reclaiming of physical space. The mini-fair will feature a sneak peek of the proposed SOMA Pilipinas Gateway arch, film screenings of Sa Amin: Our Place, It Takes A Hood to Save A Hood, and a few short films from SOMA Sapiens, a series that offers a snapshot of people’s lives in the South of Market neighborhood. In addition to the films, the event will feature food, musical acts by local performers, resource and arts and crafts vendor booths, and a kids’ puppet-making workshop.

This mini-fair is produced in collaboration between SF Urban Film Fest, SOMA West CBD, [people.power.media], SOMA Pilipinas Cultural Heritage District, and Kultivate Labs, and generously supported by the SOMA Community Collaborative, California Humanities, and City of San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development. Special thanks to the City and County of San Francisco’s Department of Recreation and Parks for their support.

Our Awesome Team

Dyan Ruiz Headshot

Dyan Ruiz - Co-Director

Dyan (she/her) is a journalist, storyteller, and community organizer. She was born in Quezon City, Philippines and grew up in Toronto, Canada. She is Co-Founder of non-profit media organization [people. power. media] based in San Francisco.

Nix Guirre Headshot

Nix Guirre - Co-Director

Nix (they/she) is a documentary filmmaker and cultural worker based in the Bay Area and born in the Philippines. They are currently the Program and Communications coordinator for SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco’s Filipino Heritage Cultural District.

Joseph Smooke Headshot

Joseph Smooke - Editor

Joseph (he/him) is a photojournalist, videographer and community organizer. He is Co-Founder of San Francisco-based [people. power. media].

Fay Darmawi Headshot

Fay Darmawi - Producer

Fay (she/her) is the Founder and Executive Director of the SF Urban Film Fest. She was born in Jakarta, Indonesia, grew up in the Washington, DC suburbs and lives in San Francisco with her college-aged twin sons.

Rachael Lastimosa

Rachael Lastimosa - Music Composer and Sound Design

Rachel Lastimosa (she/they/siya) is a second generation Ilokana with ancestry from Kalinga Apayao, Ilocos Sur and Ifugao. She is an interdisciplinary artist, producer and performer, scoring for theater and film, and has toured nationally and internationally as a performing musician.

Funders &
Contributors

FIRST NAME

Leila
Manolo
Michael
Amy
Carlo
Jason
Angela
Eric
David
Genevieve
John
Eric
Shirley
Alleluia
Stephania
Mindy
Cynthia
Nadine
Tony
Carolyn
June
Shantré
Jeanne
Keith
Carolyn
Deborah
Chris
Nicole
Rosaly
Matthew
Harvey
Rich
Jasmine
Lillian
Frances
Jonathan
Catherine
Ferdie
Rodney
Lydia
Lily Ann

LAST NAME

Ahmadifar
Almagro
Axtell
Beinart
Bernardino
Blackwell
Carrier
Donato
Ilumin
Jopanda
Laberinto
Mar
Mark
Panis
Serena
Spatt
Wong
May
Rasonskey
Sideco
Grant
Pinkney
Batallones
Battle
Choy
Cullinan
Cummings
Daryanani
Ferrer
Haas
Hacker
Hillis
Laberinto
Lew-Hailer
Loden
Moscone
Nguyen
Ostrow
Paul
Tan
Villaraza

FIRST NAME

Patricia
Katie
John
Steven
Liz
Christie
Kathi Lynn
James
Janet
Nikki
Rena
Tala (Stephanie Klaine)
Ruth
Jenny
Toby
Elena
Omeed
Jean
Mauricio
June
Samahang
Jaymie Lynn
Avni
Erica
Gary
Rose Lynn
Henny
Megan
Iana
Desi
Edgar
Darryl
Yasmin
Pamela
Jim
Mabel
David
Jamie Cristal
MC
Janine and Jerel
Young Community Developers
Friends at CCDC, MEDA, TNDC

LAST NAME

Zamora
Lamont
Avalos
Hom
Tracey
Aida Harbinski
Austin
Chan
Delaney
Diaz
Ilumin
Justo
Krumbhaar
Leung
Lieberman
Mangahas
Manocheri
McGlothlin
Miller
Parina
Pinoy
Santiago
Shah
Waltemade
Weiss
Abesamis-Bell
Lee
Wilson
Dikidjieva
Danganan
Estonina
Ratcliff
Tong
Lee
Mather
Tampinco
Weber
Joaquin
Canlas
Adviento and Baldomero (respectively)

Support Our Story

We are calling in the community to help fund the film.
We need you! In service of community, the independent artists on this film have worked on the project for 3 years with a minimal film budget, while dealing with a pandemic and tackling serious medical challenges. We need to raise funds to compensate our team adequately and to pay for post-production so that the film can be distributed widely to film festivals and on television. Your support of the “Sa Amin” film will mean the Filipino community in SoMa can continue to thrive, the legacy of their significant cultural contributions will be recognized and lessons for future generations will be passed on – thank you!

Gallery

soma-bow
mary-ann-group
play-yard
play-yard
Sa Amin Team
tina-alejo-teaching
sam-alley
building-demolition
apartmets
apartmets
Sa Amin Team
nanay
soma-bow
tony-grafilo
janine-ramon

Video Reels

Welcome To Soma Banner

Join the community

Connect with us on social media to hear about in-person and virtual screenings, updates on our team and community members interviewed in the film, and how you can get involved!

To receive updates on future screenings and other information on the SaAmin Film, please contact us. at

Email: sfurbanflmfest@gmail.com