Lavender Cinema Lounge
FILMS - FOOD - ENTERTAINMENT - TALKS
A Friday night film festival that aims to provide a gathering space for creatives and allies in diverse communities. The festival seeks to inspire and celebrate cultural diversity through curated films and complementary commercial and entertainment activities.
SAVE THE DATES
JULY 28TH
Pinays & Hip-Hop
AUGUST 4TH
KŪKULU
Free! Starting Fridays in July!
Doors open at 5pm, Films Screen at 7pm
SEPTEMBER 15TH
More Coming Soon
OCTOBER 6TH
More Coming Soon
The event will take place at Kapwa Gardens, a community gathering space.
967 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103
MEET OUR PARTNERS
Next Gen Filipinx Musicians
“The word balikbayan to me was always associated with the box, and I didn’t even know it meant something.”
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“Balikbayan to me means, homecoming”
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“The word balikbayan to me was always associated with the box, and I didn’t even know it meant something.” ⎯ “Balikbayan to me means, homecoming” ⎯
A documentary screening, conversation, and musical performance that delves into the captivating story of Ruby Ibarra, a Filipina-American rapper, and her pursuit of self-discovery through the medium of rap and hip-hop. Through this music event, we invite our audience to embark on a transformative journey alongside Ruby and the Balikbayans to navigate the intricate intersections of culture, identity, and social justice, and artistic passion.
At its core, 7000 Miles explores the universal human experience of seeking and embracing one's authentic self, even when faced with the challenges of societal expectations and cultural norms. The film is directed by Evelyn Obamos, and premiered at the CAAM Film Festival in 2020.
Performers
Opening Performance
Peaboo and the Catz
Peaboo and the Catz is a pop-rock band from Burlingame
Main Performance
The Balikbayans
The Balikbayans Started in 2018 by @rubyibarra, The Balikbayans are a Bay area Filipino-American 🇵🇭 Band featuring astralogik x @monzzzzz x @lasi_musik x @rockayye x @mykfilms x @et_iv x @mikeyalejandro
7000 Miles: Homecoming
Film Synopsis
Living up to their namesake, Ruby Ibarra and her band, The Balikbayans (Tagalog: people who return home), travel from San Francisco to Manila, Philippines to perform at multiple venues within a span of 5 days.
July’s Featured Film
7000 Miles: Homecoming
Kūkulu - The Pillars of Mauna ā Wākea is a traveling exhibition featuring: Art, Merchandise, and Messages of the Mauna Kea Movement. Kūkulu serves as a platform to teach, to share and to inspire the community to stand as pillars for this sacred mountain through visual arts, workshops, presentations, events, and gatherings. Mauna Kea Education and Awareness has committed to a community vision of creating an unique, interactive, traveling art exhibit Kūkulu; to be a pillar to set the tone and the vibration that is encompassed in the Hawaiian values, and the ʻIke Kupuna or ancestral teachings, that will inspire while educate.
KŪKULU
“They thought they were building a telescope. Instead they awoke a nation.”
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“Everybody has a spiritual connection but it's been lost. This generation has to make that leap in order for us to survive.”
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“They thought they were building a telescope. Instead they awoke a nation.” ⎯ “Everybody has a spiritual connection but it's been lost. This generation has to make that leap in order for us to survive.” ⎯
KŪKULU
Cultural Statment
After decades struggling to protect her ancestors’ burial places, now engulfed by San Francisco’s sprawl, a Native woman from a non-federally recognized Ohlone tribe and her allies occupy a sacred site to prevent its desecration. When this life-altering event fails to stop the development, they vow to follow a new path- to establish the first women-led urban Indigenous land trust. BEYOND RECOGNITION explores the quest to preserve one’s culture and homeland in a society bent on erasing them.
Beyond Recognition
August’s Featured Film
Beyond Recognition
Film Synopsis
BEYOND RECOGNITION explores the quest to preserve one’s culture and homeland in a society bent on erasing them.
Standing Above the Clouds
When the world's largest telescope is set to be built on their sacred mountain, Mauna Kea, three Native Hawaiian families dedicate their lives to defending it. Through the lens of mothers and daughters, Standing Above the Clouds explores intergenerational healing and the social and emotional labor of retaining ancient ceremonies while putting your body on the line to protect a sacred mountain.
Standing Above the Clouds
Film Synopsis
Standing Above the Clouds follows Native Hawaiian mother-daughter activists as they stand to protect their sacred mountain Mauna Kea from the building of the TMT, the eighteen story Thirty Meter Telescope on itʻs Northern Plateau.
Kumu Pua Case and the Flores-Case ‘Ohana have been part of the re-awakening of a movement of native Hawaiians and indigenous land protectors around the globe to connect, and give purpose and pride to their indigenous roots and the sacred places of their people. Kumu Pua Case and members of Mauna Kea Education and Awareness and the Run4Salmon Prayer journey will be present to chant and speak to how protecting Mauna Kea, the tallest mountain from the seafloor and supporting the protection of other sacred places, has spurred a global activation and collective voice of multiple generations to stand in respect, reverence and indigenous wisdom to protect their lands, waters, and life ways.
The evening of indigenous wisdom will include a traveling art exhibition from Hawai’i Island - Kūkulu, The Pillars of Mauna ā Wākea, and two films; Beyond Recognition, and Standing Above the Clouds.
August’s Featured Film
STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFO
STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFO
As the months roll on expect more updates for each months featured films & perfromers!