Asog

Canadian Premiere

Ten years after Super Typhoon Haiyan, many Filipinos are still crawling from the wreckage. But some can still muster the will to dance amidst the devastation. Jaya, a non-binary teacher and former television comedian, is one of those indomitable souls. In a final bid for fame, they set off across the Philippines to compete in a beauty pageant only to encounter Arnel, a former student, en route. Banding together, this unlikely duo learn to support one another in a world at the brink of collapse.

Drawing on a decade of collaboration with Jaya and Arnel, Seán Devlin (himself a Juno-nominated comedian) stocks his hybrid film with super typhoon survivors, ensuring that it not only honours their experiences, but is infused with their resilience. Dizzying and deeply felt, Asog nimbly dances between the comic, sorrowful, and political. Both inspired and impacted by climate chaos, it recognizes the unprecedented circumstances we live in and responds with a film quite unlike anything we’ve ever seen.

Asog is the film we need right now. It is full of such passion and urgency and humour and love that it gurgles out of the screen and into your soul. I’m honoured to be an executive producer as I want every single person I know and many, many I don’t to see this thing of scarred beauty and queer, savage joy.
Alan Cumming, Executive Producer

September 30 & October 1: Q&A with director Seán Devlin & crew