Check out the trailer for the film ‘ASOG,’ premiering on VOD and leading digital platforms on April 11, 2025. “Essential viewing as queer cinema, as political cinema and as climate cinema,” (writes Eastern Kicks), ‘ASOG’ is the sophomore directorial feature from Seán Devlin, a Juno-nominated comedian and consulting producer on the Oscar-nominated ‘Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm. ‘
In the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, TV Host-turned-teacher Jaya leaves their job and unsupportive boyfriend to pursue their passion for drag in hopes of winning the “Ms. Gay Sicogon” Pageant. Before leaving, they run into their former student, Arnel, heading in the same direction in hopes of finding his father. Banding together, the unlikely duo’s difficult yet cathartic journey is marked by a series of encounters with victims of the recent environmental devastation.
‘Asog’s executive producers include Academy Award-winning filmmaker Adam McKay (The Big Short), Emmy Award-winning actor Alan Cumming (Eyes Wide Shut), and Emmy nominee Joel Kim Booster (Fire Island); the film was produced by Amanda Ernst.
‘Asog’ has made a significant impact, garnering widespread international recognition for a film that features a cast made up entirely of Super Typhoon survivors – none of whom were trained actors. The film’s final act exposes a corporate land grab in the Philippines, specifically the post typhoon displacement of 784 families on Sicogon Island by Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), the Philippines’ oldest corporation and largest real estate developer. As reported by Filmmaker Magazine: “Asog managed to create enough pressure on the developers and government that they finally listened to many of the residents.” After 9 years of stonewalling, pressure sparked by the film led to the payment of over $5,078,630 million USD (293,696,000 PH Pesos) in reparations for the families affected by the land grab. An outsized impact considering the film’s miniscule $250,000 USD production budget.
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