Jax Guillen Thesis Short ‘Ivory Tulle’ Selected to CineFAM Film Festival
Class of 2022 Film Production grad Jax Guillen’s TFS thesis film, Ivory Tulle, was recently selected for the CineFAM Annual Film Festival.
The annual festival, which takes place this year from Dec. 8-10 at Toronto’s TIFF Bell Lightbox, is a three-day celebration of bold, original film stories by Canadian women and non-binary creators of colour.
Guillen said that, as an emerging filmmaker, seeing her story chosen to be screened alongside those of other underrepresented creators – especially women of colour – at the festival was an incredibly fulfilling experience.
“It’s more than just a recognition; it’s a validation of the stories we breathe life into,” said Guillen, who’s now working as a Teaching Assistant in the Editing Department at TFS, while studying towards her Bachelor of Creative Arts degree at TFS affiliate, Yorkville University.
“I’ve put a lot of heart into this project and this recognition makes me feel seen and understood. I hope that this opportunity inspires creators from underrepresented groups to continue creating meaningful, authentic stories that resonate with their communities, as well.”
Ivory Tulle, which features an all-Filipino cast, follows bride-to-be Teresa, as she struggles to prepare for her wedding day amid pressure from her family and friends to invite her estranged father to the ceremony.
Nominated for Best Picture at the 2023 TFS Festival of Films, the nine-minute film marks Guillen’s first contribution to increasing Filipino representation in film and has been screened at various international film festivals.
Ivory Tulle will be screened live as part of CineFAM’s Day 2: The Ties That Bind program at the TIFF Bell Lightbox on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased HERE.
The film will also be available to stream online HERE starting from Friday, Dec. 8 at 12 a.m.
“I would like to extend a warm invitation to the TFS community to join and support the film, either in-person at the festival or by watching it online,” Guillen said.
“TFS played a significant role in enabling me to achieve what I have with this film, and I am truly grateful for the support.”
More About Jax Guillen
Jax Guillen began her career in the creative industry as an art director at BBDO Guerrero, one of the leading advertising agencies in the Philippines, where she has worked with brand giants such as PepsiCo, the Philippine Department of Tourism, and Mars Wrigley.
From there, she decided to pursue her passion for filmmaking, and received a scholarship to study Film Production at Toronto Film School (TFS). During her time at TFS, Jax undertook extensive work in the art departments of numerous student thesis films, as well as Canadian Film Centre (CFC) films. Towards the end of her studies, Jax successfully pitched and directed the short film, Ivory Tulle, which has garnered recognition and been screened at various international film festivals.
Jax currently works in the Editing Department at Toronto Film School as a Teacher’s Assistant, while undertaking the Bachelor of Creative Arts program at Yorkville University in order to further expand her knowledge and abilities in the field. She has since written and directed her second short film, With or Without You, which once again features a Filipino cast.
