LOGLINE
“In 2003, a 16-year-old Filipino kid from the inner city is forced to leave his old life behind for the terrifying new world of Santa Barbara, California.”
Jonah’s world is equally dangerous as everyday life in the inner city. He’s a hustler, brother, and son in a Filipino American family, but his world comes crumbling down when his mom and new stepdad break the news that they are moving, and Jonah needs to face the harsh reality of what it really means to be “American”.
FIL-AM was shot on location in the Bay Area, on the same streets that inspired writer/director Ralph Torrefranca’s story about 2nd generation dual identity and our complex relationships to being “American” enough.
The proof-of-concept short film comes from writer/director Ralph Torrefranca’s feature script “Fil-Am” which was selected by Gold House's Gold Pitch at Toronto International Film Festival and was most recently in the 2nd Round of the Sundance Labs.
“Fil-Am” stars Deuce Basco, Emerson Basco, Madeleine Humphries, Darion Basco and Hunter Stiebel.
RALPH TORREFRANCA
Ralph Torrefranca is a Filipino American award-winning writer, director and musician based in Los Angeles. With roots in the Bay Area, Santa Barbara, The Netherlands and even Germany; Filipino-American filmmaker Ralph Torrefranca has a unique upbringing under his belt when it comes to storytelling.
His short film Champagne Social premiered at The 2019 IFS Film Festival in LA where Ralph was named “Best Director” at the fest. His feature screenplay “RIFF” also made the Top 20% of the Academy Nicholl Fellowship in 2021. Ralph’s feature script for "Fil-Am" was in the 2nd round of the Sundance Labs and was selected by Goldhouse for their Gold Pitch at Toronto International Film Festival 24'. The film is in development with Emmy Award-winning Reel Clever Films and Flashback Pictures.
Ralph is also an accomplished musician, most known as the lead singer/guitarist of the national touring post-punk band Cuffed Up (KEXP, KCRW) who were SXSW Official Artists in 2022 and 2024. He has directed numerous music videos for the band including lead singles “Finer Things”, “Bonnie” and “Mock Dance”.
SCREENINGS
FEB 7TH + FEB 9TH
WORLD PREMIERE - SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
TICKETS - https://sbiff.org/
FULL CREDITS + TECH
Written & Directed by - Ralph Torrefranca
Produced by - Eden Sabolboro, Ralph Torrefranca, Daniel Cotroneo
Principal Cast - Deuce Basco, Emerson Basco, Madeleine Humphries, Hunter Stiebel, Darion Basco
Supporting Cast - Edison Medina, Alyria Suarez, Omar Rocha
Wyatt Perkins, Clark Kent P. Santos
Director of Photography - Thaad Sabolboro
1st AC - Kelsey Rivera
2nd AC - Abby Acala
Steadicam Op - Austin Fiare
1st AD - Madeline Abiera
DIT - Simon Santos
UPM - Anna Cadena
Location Manager - Frances Reyes-Bolinger
Production Designer - Mikki Mamaril
Art PA - Clark Kent P. Santos
Art PA - Precious Prado
HMU - Gwen Lucchesi
Wardrobe - Thea Calaguio
Sound Mixer - Jon Boo
Sound Mixer - Angie Lara
Boom Op - Brian Baker
Key Gaffer - Shane Louis
Key Grip - Patrick Walsh
Swing - Yolanda Ha
Grip - Bryce Myrah
Grip - Jon Sun
Script Supervisor - Marta Roncada
Set Teacher - Martha Harris
PA - Juliana Nguyen
PA - Guillermo Quintanilla
BTS Photographers - Eddie Shin, Brandon Nguyen
BTS Photographer/Stills - Erick Alberto Salazar
Composer - Valeri Ortiz
Score Mixed by Ethan Obbema
Score Octavina, Electric Bass - Celisse Tan
Score Guitars - Ralph Torrefranca
Sound Editor - Andrea Idioma
Supervising Sound Editor - Andrea Idioma
Re-Recording Mixer - Andrea Trinidad Idioma
Dialogue Editor - Andrea Idioma
Sound Effects Editor - Chris Stucker
Foley Services by Narra Post-Production Studios
Foley Mixer - Jose Elian Idioma
Foley Artist - Harold Elviña
Foley Artist - Edwin Pitogo
Colorist - Jacob Butler
Editor: Achim Mendoza
VFX Artist - Danny Shepard
Production Company: Reel Clever Films, Flashback Pictures, UNDRDG
Genre: Drama, Live Action Short, Narrative Short
Format: Arri RAW
TTT: 14min | Color | Digital | 1.85: 1 | Dolby Atmos 5.1 Stereo | 23.98fps | English, Tagalog
