Fana’guyan is a trilogy of cinema, movement, and score articulating dreams of Pasifika, South Asian, and Southeast Asian survivorship. The project was commissioned by API Chaya, a dxʷdəwʔabš Territory-based community organization ending human trafficking and gender-based violence for their 2021 virtual Gala Fundraiser. Supporters received the short film with passionate enthusiasm and showed up to exceed the $400,000 fundraiser goal.

 

Multidisciplinary CHamoru cultural worker, Dakota Camacho, led a collaborative, visionary 3-month process that united Native Hawaiian group Huraiti Mana, Filipino martial arts team Balintawak Seattle, CHamoru queer art collective Guma' Gela', South Asian dance troupe Rangeela Dance Company in exploring the stories of survivors who seek support from API Chaya. Camacho invited the artists to reflect on their own stories of surviving inter-personal violence and state violence, while centering how our cultural creative philosophies generate healing and power.

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With the production team of cinematographer Futsum Tsegai, and composer-engineer Nic Masangkay, the film evokes the generations of anti-violence organizing that Pacific Islander and Asian aunties have nurtured in Seattle for generations.

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Director: Dakota Camacho
Director of Photography: Futsum Tsegai
Editor: Futsum Tsegai
Composer: Nic Masangkay
Sound Designer: Nic Masangkay

Cast:

Guma' Gela' - Roldy Aguero Ablao, So'le Celestial, Lourdez Puti'on Velasco

Rangeela Dance Company - Prathamesh Chavan, Sharanya Raju, Katy Spada, Nitika Arora, Bhargavi Venkataraman, & Priyanka J. Vora

Balintawak Seattle - Arielle Fontelera, Marie Gawad, Matthew Pena, Itsa Shash, & Guro John Soriano

Huraiti Mana - Kalei'okalani Matsui (carrying her hiapo, her firstborn), Katie Sasuga, & Brandi Shears,

Special Thanks to: API Chaya, Zahra Lutfeali, Priya Rai, LèMíng 乐明 Yocum, Malika Aiyer, & Jesse Guecha
 

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