How Kilawin Kolektibo Changed Pinay Queer History: An Interview with the Filmmakers

Behind the scenes of the groundbreaking documentary Because of You: A History of Kilawin Kolektibo, filmmakers Barbara Malaran and Desireena Almoradie sat down with renowned critic Manny the Movie Guy to discuss their "intimate, defiant love letter" to the radical queer Filipinx community of 90s New York City.

A Love Letter to Chosen Family

The film, titled Because of You (or Dahil Sa ’Yo), is an archival documentary that chronicles the rise of Kilawin Kolektibo, a pioneering collective formed at the intersections of race, gender, and revolution. During the interview, Malaran and Almoradie shared how the collective provided a vital space for those marginalized by both mainstream gay culture and traditional Filipino culture.

•           Radical Beginnings: Founded in the mid-90s, the group turned marginalization into a movement, using radical joy and resistance to combat erasure.

•           The "Kilawin" Name: The collective was named after the raw, spicy Filipino dish kilawin, reflecting the raw and bold nature of their storytelling.

Preserving a Vanishing History

The filmmakers discussed the immense task of culling through over 25 years of documentation, including video diaries, photographs, zines, and ephemera provided by the collective’s archivist, Panday Banale.

•           Intergenerational Legacy: The film is part manifesto and part memoir, intended as a "tender offering" from Malaran and Almoradie to future generations of QTBIPOC artists and organizers.

•           A "Cinema of Touch": Inspired by mentors like Barbara Hammer, the directors aimed to capture the "heartbeat" of the collective's actions—from protests and marches to campy singalongs and massage trains.

Filmmaker Spotlights

Both directors are veterans of the industry with deep roots in the community they documented:

•           Desireena Almoradie: An Emmy-nominated and GLAAD Award-winning filmmaker who emigrated from Manila to Queens.

•           Barbara Malaran: An interdisciplinary artist and educator who honed their craft documenting Kilawin’s actions during their formative years in NYC.

The interview highlights how Because of You serves not just as a historical record, but as a living act of reconciliation and a celebration of queer kinship.

Check out our interview above, and for our uncut chat, click here.