Before her critically acclaimed feature films like “That Thing Called Tadhana” and “Fan Girl,” director-screenwriter Antoinette Jadaone—like most filmmakers—first fell in love with short films. If you haven’t caught it online, one of her oldest brainchildren is available to stream.

Enter “Saling Pusa (Tag-Along),” Jadaone’s work back in 2006. In her Youtube page, she revealed that after graduating from college, she got into a directing workshop with director Tikoy Aguiluz and CineManila International Film Festival. That’s where she was able to direct this short film. 

“Direk Tikoy was to select two concepts to be turned into a short film, and fortunately, mine was chosen! “Saling Pusa” was a film concept I have always wanted to do but didn’t have the funds to do it,” she said. 

The film follows a young, seemingly innocent girl who joins an intense game of gambling—without money in her pocket at that. Who’ll take home everything? 

“Saling Pusa” is one of the films in the University of the Philippines Film Institute’s special Women’s Month lineup. Apart from Jadaone’s short film, you can also watch Sari Dalena’s “Asong Simbahan,” Pam Miras’ “Wag Kang Titingin,” Hannah Espia-Farbova’s “Ruweda,” Martika Ramirez Escobar’s “Living Things,” Mae Urtal Caralde’s “Yanan,” Sophia Isip’s “Ascending” and Jayneca Reyes’ “DocWomentary: Women Behind the Lens”—all for free.

On the last day of Women’s Month, let’s remind ourselves that women continue to fight for their place behind the lens. And it doesn’t stop in March. 

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Still from “Saling Pusa”