Synopsis

* Hong Kong Premiere

Winner of Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor at Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival
Official Selection: Berlinale 2024 — Generation, Stockholm International Film Festival Junior, Pink Apple Queer Film Festival

Set in the provincial town of Romblon, Philippines in 2001, LOVE AND VIDEOTAPES follows the journey of Andoy, a teenage boy navigating the complexities of growing up. Andoy lives with his aunt and her brash, masculine husband, while his father is missing and his mother works in a distant city, often forgetting to send him money. Trapped in this hostile home environment, Andoy seeks refuge in the world of VHS movies, daydreaming to escape his everyday life. However, Andoy’s world expands as he meets a gender-bending hairdresser and a mysterious sunbather. As Andoy becomes more involved in these strangers’ lives, he must also bid farewell to his best mate Pido, who is leaving for the city. Through its casual charm, the film poignantly captures the agony and confusion of Andoy’s coming-of-age.