Ang Meron sa Wala (Beyond Nothing)

A resolute man unapologetically abandons his first-born, believing that it was the right thing to do. Many years later, an inquisitive documentary filmmaker interrogates him.

SYNOPSIS:
Alfredo, now in his fifties, blissfully lives with his family among his pigs and chicken at a rural town in Laguna. It is a humble place, but it is one that he built throughout the years of holding on to his own drive to be independent despite his poor economic means. He has been living independently since he was in high school. Although his father had offers to send him to college during his early years, he refuses. He thinks that he will not make it through and that the attempt would be futile.

While in high school, he falls in love with a young woman who is about the same age as him and he bears a child with her. However, because of many issues, the most glaring one of which is the gap in their social status, the relationship fails. He initially attempts to keep their child, but soon realizes that he does not have the means to raise him. Resolute, he turns over the child to the young woman and her family, thinking that this would be the best for his son. He never looks back since.

One day, a filmmaker approaches him to interrogate him about the choices that he made that lead to and after he got separated from his first-born. While happily living with his new family, he recounts what happened to his first-born and explains why he made the decisions that he did and retrospectively, how he now feels about the whole ordeal.

• Cinemalaya Film Festival
  Manila, Philippines
  August 7, 2020
  Philippine Premiere
  Indie Nation Shorts
• Austin Asian American Film Festival
  Austin, Texas, United States
  June 2, 2020
  Official Selection
• Fist Up Film Festival
  Oakland, United States
  June 7, 2020
  Official Selection
• Atlantic International Film Festival
  Barranquilla, Colombia
  September 16, 2020
  Official Selection
• BINISAYA
  Cebu, Philippines
  October 8, 2020
  Official Selection
• Pelikultura: The Calabarzon Film Festival
  Los Baños, Philippines
  Official Selection
• The 3rd Meihodo International Youth Visual Media Festival
  Fukuoka, Japan
  December 23, 2020
  Official Selection
• The Lift-Off Sessions
  United Kingdom
  March 15, 2021
  Official Selection
• Oxford Film Festival
  Oxford Massachusetts, United States
  March 24, 2021
  Official Selection
• Cinema Rehiyon 2021
  Philippines
  March 26, 2021
  Official Selection
• Liberation Docfest Bangladesh
  Dhaka, Bangladesh
  June 8, 2021
  Bangladeshi Premiere
  Official Selection
• MBC Short Film Festival
  Manila, Philippines
  August 16, 2020
  Official Selection
• Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2021
  Manila, Philippines
  September 17, 2021
  Official Selection
• Bangkok International Documentary Awards
  Bangkok, Thailand
  Thailand Premiere
  Official Selection
• Samu’t Sari Shorts: A Film Forum on Filipino Mental Health
  Manila, Philippines
  October 30, 2021
• Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival 2021
  Philadelphia, United States
  November 13, 2021
  Philadelphia Premiere
  Official Selection

FESTIVALS AND SCREENING

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