Connection

Anton, a frustrated Filipino musician, uploads a song he’s been working on social media. However, when an unauthorized French cover of his song goes viral, Anton attempts to reach out to his rival, but immediately encounters a linguistic and cultural barrier.

A Filipino soap-opera translator turned filmmaker, Achim Mendoza has pursued a diverse array of interests. His passion in film started in his teens, when a prestigious Filipino director offered to mentor him. Achim would fly back and forth between his hometown of Davao and Manila to attend her classes. However, when his mentor passed away, Achim took a break from filmmaking to participate in cultural exchange programs in Japan and France. Achim eventually ended up working as a translator of Filipino soap operas in ABS-CBN, a Filipino TV network. At the same time, he headed the video department of “Stages Sessions,” a YouTube channel that features works from Filipino musicians and poets. Several of his other projects as a freelance assistant director and editor have also been featured in film festivals. He is currently taking up MFA Film and TV Production at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

Plays in

Shorts Program I: Connect the Dots

Q&A with the filmmakers after the screening Moderator: Trixi Agiao