Set in 2008, in Baguio City and Benguet, Philippines: Elias, aged 12, wants to rent a suit and attend the school dance. However, suit rentals are way above the means of a poor janitor’s son. So Elias scavenges and sells recyclable scraps to afford it.
As Elias confronts the realities of growing up in an indigent household, he is forced to make a responsible, “mature” decision that costs him a significant part of his childhood.
Game Boy Advance ©2023 John Pucay
“Sidung” and “Sidung — Acoustic (GBA Version)” are original songs by El Sarlipan. Executive producer: John Pucay. Both songs were produced for Game Boy Advance.
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More about Game Boy Advance
I first pitched this short film to a grant-giving body sometime around 2020/2021. I managed to get shortlisted, and I was feeling positive about my chances since the jury was adamant about uplifting personal stories with social relevance (Game Boy Advance is loosely inspired by my childhood), but I eventually failed to get the grant.
In 2023, disillusioned in grant-giving bodies, and after saving enough of my writing income, I self-produced/self-funded the short film.
I began auditioning individuals who matched the characters I had in mind. With the help of the principal and faculty of the Saint Louis School of Pacdal in Baguio City, I was able to find the amazing folks that you now see in this film.
Having limited resources and considering the actors’ class schedules and crew availability, GBA had to be made under a tight budget and timetable. I am eternally grateful to Mr. Ricky P. Give of Calle Uno FoodHub and Ms. Melan “Jingle” Ku Marquez of The Podium Hotel who graciously and generously allowed us to shoot in their space. The cast and the crew persevered despite everything, and GBA was finally, finally born.
In Game Boy Advance, I attempt to show — especially to those privileged enough to come from relatively comfortable backgrounds — a small but important, and often less exposed nuance of growing up underprivileged in the rural Philippines.
I hope GBA serves as a love letter to childhood for those who can relate to the film’s spirit and era.
Game Boy Advance is an official selection in the San Diego Filipino Film Festival 2024 in California. #sdfff2024 #sdfilipinofilmfest #sdfff
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SDFFF poster illustration by Venazir Martinez I Key Art Poster by Justin Besana