watch trailer

Community Screening: The Road to Sydney + SDFFF Shorts Awards Night and Baryo Rising: Queer AFter Party

Directed by Benito Bautista

Director Benito Bautista and Featured Film Participant Sabrina Suico are scheduled to attend the Q&A.

Join us for the Community Screening of The Road to Sydney by Benito Bautista, then stick around for the SDFFF Shorts Awards Night and keep the celebration going at Baryo Rising: Queer AFter Party! A night of music, dance, and community with DJs Kasama and Danica—honoring and uplifting our LGBTQ+ community and allies.

Your all-in-one ticket includes dinner and drinks. Attire: dressy casual or festive—come ready to celebrate!

• Your ticket includes the film screening and the After Party at Dr. Benjamin Camacho’s residence at 3550 Proctor Valley Road, Bonita, CA 91902.

• The After Party includes food and drinks, and an opportunity to network with SDFFF filmmakers and community members.

• The After Party program includes the SDFFF Shorts Awarding Ceremony, followed by the much-anticipated BARYO RISING: Queer AFter Party.

• Get your dancing shoes ready for a night of celebration with danceable beats! Suggested Attire: Dressy Casual or Festive Attire. The venue is outdoor, so please bring warm clothing.

The Road to Sydney follows Philippine dance master and choreographer Sydney Loyola, who found refuge in dance after a childhood of bullying in Palawan. Now based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sydney faces the painful realities of job loss and eviction following her gender affirmation. Through courage and artistry, she embarks on a journey of healing, identity, and reconciliation with her estranged father.

Benito Bautista is a Filipino filmmaker drawn to stories rooted in his community and the social issues that shape their lives. His work often highlights overlooked voices and cultural traditions, as seen in Harana: The Search for the Lost Art of Serenade, which won the Gawad Urian Award for Best Documentary film, A.N.D. Award at the Busan International Film Festival, and Audience Awards, including at CAAMFest and the Hawaii International Film Festival. His feature narrative BOUNDARY, which explores themes of corruption and socio-economic inequality, was honored with the NETPAC Award at the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.Benito served as producer on A Long March by T.S. Botkin, a feature documentary about Filipino American World War II veterans still fighting to receive the full benefits they were promised. He co-produced A is for Agustin by Grace Simbulan, a feature documentary which follows a 40-year-old Indigenous man who chooses to start first grade in hopes of creating a better future for himself and his family.Benito co-founded the non-profit organization San Diego Filipino Cinema, presenter of the San Diego Filipino Film Festival. SDFFF is home of the largest curation of global Filipino cinema in Northern America.

Dates & Times

Theater 13, AMC Theater Plaza Bonita, Westfield

October 11, 2025
4:00 pm