The boys’ love subgenre in cinema has invaded Hawaii. A new BL film called ‘My Partner’ from the Paradise of the Pacific has landed on the Philippines’ entertainment landscape just in time for the celebration of pride month this June.
A special screening of ‘My Partner’ for family, friend, and select media and guests was held on June 17 at Red Carpet Cinema of Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City. It was graced by one of its lead stars, our Pinoy pride, Jayron Muñoz, who plays Edmar in the film, paired with Kaipo Dudoit (who is recently cast as David in the upcoming live-action adaptation of ‘Lilo & Stitch’). Their writer, Lance Collins, was also present at the event, along with one of the cast members, Alaka’i Lastimado, who played Uncle Jack in the story.
After its premiere in Mentro Manila, ‘My Partner’ will be screened in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, as well as in Panglao, Bohol.
‘My Partner’ tells the story of Edmar, played by Pinoy actor Jayron Muñoz, a high-performing Filipino student; and Pili, played by Kaipo Dudoit, a native Hawaiian student athlete standout.
The movie, directed by Native Hawaiian visual storyteller Keli’i Grace and written by Maui judge and attorney Lance Collins, tells of how Edmar and Kaipo come to understand each other’s backgrounds and cultures amid their clashing peer groups.
Set in rural West Maui, “My Partner” showcases many of today’s current issues. Writer Lance Collins, a Filipino who grew up in Hawai’i, reveals that the state’s former sugar plantations provided a basis for his story. He declares, “The now-gone, historic sugar plantations used racial difference as a way of controlling and managing the labor force over the decades. These plantation thought structures continue to divide us even though the struggles that Hawaiians and Filipinos in Hawai’i face result from the same global economic forces. The story aims to show how these forces can be resisted through solidarity and mutual aid and understanding.”
“My Partner” was made through the “Pono Process,” which is described as a respectful and righteous filmmaking process. As such, engagement with stakeholders from Kanaka (native Hawaiians, those persons who descended from the aboriginal peoples of Hawai’i), LGBTQIA+, and environmental groups was employed.
Director Keli’i Grace explains, “Because it (movie) deals with several highly-charged issues facing a small tightly-knit community, it was important to make sure that the communities we were representing felt that our depictions accurately reflected their own truths, so that we were telling their stories.”
The specialness of the film and having many Filipinos and Hawaiians of Filipino descent in the cast and crew is the reason for bringing “My Partner” to the Philippines. “We wanted to ensure that they were able to share the movie with their loved ones who do not live in Hawai’i,” says Collins whose family is from Batangas and Masbate.
“My Partner” won the Audience Award at the 2023 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and was selected for the KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival in Mumbai, India, and the BJX Bajío International Film Festival in Guanajuato, Mexico.
Also, the movie recently got selected for the Mpumalanga International Film Festival in South Africa, Golden Isles Film Festival in Georgia, USA, and LGBTQ Unbordered International Film Festival.
For more information and updates, follow My Partner Movie’s Facebook, TikTok and Instagram accounts and visit mypartnermovie.com.
Photos courtesy: KSG Films, mypartnerthemovie|Instagram
TATAK MNL 
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