Movies
The Philippines
RAM BOTERO is an artist, writer, cultural worker, community facilitator and filmmaker from Mindanao, Philippines. In 2019, she directed the film Pamalugu (In Limbo), which has been screened internationally (Fukuoka Independent Film Festival, 2021), and at several national film festival – earning accolades at the 2019 editions of the Ngilngig Asian Fantastic Film Festival and Festival de Cine Paz Zamboanga. She is currently in the production stages of her forthcoming film Eksotik (2024). Ram is one of the artists behind the photographic project ‘Diwata: Queering Pre-Colonial Philippine Mythology’, commissioned by the 2021 Southeast Asian Queer Cultural Festival, and exhibited in Fukuoka, Japan, later that same year. Ram’s essay ‘Of Myths and Goddesses: The Trans Voice in Art and Feminist Spaces’ was published in Archival Glitch, a collection of lectures by feminist artists in Asia and the Pacific. She has recently produced the performance for camera ‘Siren’s Song’ for the European Capital of Culture (Elefsina, Greece, 2023).
United Kingdom
GIULIA CASALINI is an independent curator-artist and transfeminist community organiser based in London. She has just completed a PhD analysing queer-trans-feminist live art from transnational perspectives, in an attempt to decentre Euro-Anglo-American aesthetic canons and discourses. Her writing practice is based on embodied responses to the artists’ works and uses a ‘deep sensing’ method to understand their singular perspectives beyond linguistic articulations. As a curator, her methods have been reflecting upon the ethics of care and co-creation, with translocal and transnational queer community-building as her objective. Her practice spans from institutional to alternative spaces, with a focus on performance, audience participation and engagements across diverse communities.
Selected curatorial projects: Burned House Horizon (Mimosa House, London, 2025) #WIP (Queer Art Projects, online, 2020); EcoFutures (multi-venue festival, London, 2019); Still Burning (Konsthalle, Varberg, 2019); Transitional States (touring, including Peltz Gallery, London and CCCB, Barcelona, 2017-18); Transformer (Richard Saltoun, London, 2014). Recent talks/workshops: Tate (UK, 2022); Bitef Festival (Belgrade, Serbia, 2021); Centrale Fies (Dro, Italy, 2021). She has published in both peer-reviewed academic journals (e.g. Contemporary Theatre Review, Technoethics, Media-N), art magazines (e.g. La Quadriennale di Roma, MACRO Roma) and more popular outlets (e.g. Tinig UK). She has been co-founder and artistic director of the non-profit arts organisation Arts Feminism Queer (aka CUNTemporary, 2012-2021), and the founder of Archivio Queer Italia (2014-2017). She sits on the advisory board of Mimosa House gallery (London) and is a Live Art Associate UK.
The Philippines
ART ALFEREZ is a painter, sculptor, photographer, costume-maker, graphic designer, and animé enthusiast from Nabunturan, Davao de Oro. He co-managed a tea shop in his hometown, aptly named Creativitea. In 2018, Art traded his paintbrushes and fabrics for wrenches when he moved to Japan to work as a truck mechanic in search of greener pastures. Yet, Art remained true to his name, and he pursued his creative passions whenever time allowed. He returned to the Philippines in 2024, just in time to work on the Diwata project—a homecoming to his first love. Since then, he has been designing costumes and props. Art also moonlights as a Nihongo teacher at Tagum Doctors College.
The Philippines
GEM AGNES FATIMA BOTERO is a couturier and a culinarian from Nabunturan, Davao de Oro. She used to run Sweet Soul, a small café in her quiet hometown that became a beloved haven for artists and creatives until its closure during the pandemic. Gem continues to craft costumes for her family and friends engaged in artistic pursuits, from filmmaking to beauty pageants. Despite her visual impairment, she remains undaunted, viewing life with an unwavering sense of beauty and pride.
The Philippines
JOEE MEJIAS is a projection designer, composer, video and music producer, and performing artist from Antipolo, Philippines. Joee's music blends multiple rhythms, contrasting sounds and harmonies using acoustic and electronic instruments, and voice inspired by the constant flux and chaos of their environment, as well as nature's seemingly random compositions. Their work thrives on the magic of improvisation, and collaboration, fostering a space for personal and creative exploration.
Joee has been performing as a musician using several monikers, currently, performing as joee mejias/jōeeii (solo), dj mangocurry, Sister Joyce, and Joee & I, a collaborative avant-pop music project where she creates participatory site-specific musical performances. Joee has contributed music to films such as "Medusae" and “Bari-Bari” and has performed across Southeast Asia, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Australia and has toured the Philippines. She was co-producer for WSK: Festival Of The Recently Possible, an international festival of digital arts and electronic music in the Philippines.
Additionally, she is co-founder and organizer for HERESY, a Manila-based female-curated art platform that pushes for a more gender-inclusive new media arts community and increased visibility of women who work with various forms of creative technology. Currently, she is an active participant at Synthicide, a Philippine concept project, fledging artist community and interest group for keyboard/synth players, synthesists, DIYers, circuit benders, makers and enthusiasts.
The Philippines
JOSHUA CAESAR “WOWA” MEDROSO is a graphic designer, writer, photographer, and filmmaker based in Davao City. He has a degree in Mass Communication and a postgraduate degree in Literature. His works include “Trabungko”, Best Film winner of the 17th edition of the Mindanao Film Festival, “Eyes With Wonder”, Best Film winner of the 1st ever Davao Kilig Film Festival, “Here Are Flowers”, Best Film winner of the Paglaum: Stories of Courage Film Festival, and “Kumbiyor”, a Special Jury Mention at the 2021 Viddsee Jury Awards and one of the top ten nominees for Best Short Film of 2022 by the Society of Filipino Film Reviewers, and “Tong Adlaw Nga Nag-Snow sa Pinas”(The Day It Snowed In The Philippines), Best Film winner of the Sine Kabataan film lab and competition during the 6th Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino, Best film winner at the 2022 Binisaya Film Festival, and Best Film winner at the 2022 Viddsee Juree Asia. It has also been a finalist for the 19th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Competition and the 2023 Gawad Urian. In 2024, Joshua’s debut feature film “Kantil” premiered at Cinemalaya XX.
United Kingdom
NIYA B is a multi-disciplinary artist, working at the intersections of visual art and performance on ecology, (trans)gender embodiments, class, mythology and the knowledge held in the land and the performing body. Niya is currently a candidate for a practice-as-research PhD at Kingston University, School of Art, where she is investigating the intersections of ecology and gendered embodiments.
Niya has exhibited and performed extensively; among others, at Tate Britain (London), CCA (Glasgow), Site Gallery (Sheffield), BOM (Birmingham), International Print Biennale (Newcastle), Visioni Del Sud (Salento, Italy), 5th and 8th Thessaloniki Biennale (Greece), 2023 European Capital of Culture (Greece), 5th Moscow Biennale (Russia), Goldsmiths University of London, University of Leeds. Niya has been supported by Arts Council England, the British Council, Jerwood Arts and the Cultural Institute Leeds among others.
