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The first Filipino film about intersex won big at a UK LGBTQIA+ film fest

After clinching multiple awards at the Cinema One Originals Film Festival in 2019, Filipino film “Metamorphosis” eventually landed in the United Kingdom—and won big at a queer film festival to boot. 

J.E. Tiglao’s debut feature—a.k.a. the first Filipino movie about intersex—bagged the Best Feature Award at the 2022 Iris Prize Festival held on Oct. 11 to 16.

The annual Iris Prize is an international award and festival that champions LGBTQIA+ films. This queer film fest is based in Cardiff, Wales, and is recognized by the British Academy Film Awards. 

“Metamorphosis’” Best Feature Award isn’t just the best part of their Iris Prize victory. Gold Azeron—who played Adam in the movie—also bagged the award for Best Performance in a role Beyond the Binary.

The film follows the story of Adam, who was raised as any other typical boy, until he experiences his first “dalaw” of menstruation. As an intersex individual, Adam goes through a distressing transformation with this discovery. 

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Stills from “Metamorphosis”

Justine Rey: