A surrealist collage features an older woman and a young girl sitting at a dinner table placed in an outdoor grassy field. A framed portrait of a man, a grandfather clock, and a large fly are floating in the scene, while an airplane flies through a dark, rainy sky in the background.

Local famålao’an filmmakers set to launch Film Fiesta at Guam Museum

Gemini said A paper-cutout animation style image of a young woman sitting on a small outrigger boat under a starry night sky.
The Film Fiesta will feature the short films created by local filmmakers including Maria Sol Dueñas Marques.  “Vocational Voyage of a Land’s Girl” will be featured during the showcase being held at the Guam Museum.
A surrealist collage features an older woman and a young girl sitting at a dinner table placed in an outdoor grassy field. A framed portrait of a man, a grandfather clock, and a large fly are floating in the scene, while an airplane flies through a dark, rainy sky in the background.
Tonya Dee McDaniel’s “Åguguat” will be screened as a part of the film fiesta being held at the Guam Museum.  Interested community members can secure seats via Eventbrite.com with no cost.
A digital animation frame of a young woman with dark, wavy hair and wide, expressive eyes looking upward in wonder.
The Film Fiesta will feature a mix of different animation styles including stop-action and even 2D drawn animaltion. “Zenith” by Trinity Feliciano will be featured during the showcase.

A collective of local famålao’an filmmakers have partnered with the Guam Museum’s HITA Talk series and will debut the Film Fiesta’s 7 short films at the museum’s indoor theater on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 2pm.

The free event will be held in collaboration with the Heritage, Ideas, Traditions, Arts (HITA) Talk series held monthly by the Guam Museum Foundation.

The Film Fiesta is made up of works from local artists Tonya Dee McDaniel, Maria Sol Dueñas Marques, Yusra Khuja, Hokule’a Naomi Santos, Trinity Cando Feliciano and Dawn Lynne Fortuna Pechberty.

According to McDaniel, the presentation will showcase the diversity of Guam’s talent and people while highlighting the depth of art and storytelling our culture is known for.

“We liken our collection of short films to the variety of dishes that you’d find at the modern CHamoru fiesta table which come together to create an all-encompassing and unique experience,” said McDaniel. “This will be a multimedia showcase featuring digital collage, stop-motion animated, 2D digitally drawn animated and live-action short films.”

According to the group, the 7 short films will center on CHamoru cultural values such as environmental stewardship and seeking guidance from our asaina or ancestors in the hope of inspiring and creating solutions for our manhoben or youth.

Following the screenings a facilitated panel will be hosted featuring the filmmakers with an open questions and answers format included.

The group hopes that the event will create a space to empower film makers on Guam and to showcase the artistic expression of our cultural pride.

The event is presented by Guam Green Growth and the UOG Center for Island Sustainability & Sea Grant (UOG CIS & Sea Grant), Prutehi Guahan, and The Guam Bus.

UOG CIS & Sea Grant director Austin Shelton, Ph.D., underscores the importance of the arts in the movement for sustainability on Guam.

“Sustainability was our ancestors’ way of life,” said Shelton. “The storytelling of these films reconnect us to our ancestors and inspire pathways to our sustainable future.”

Entry is free to the public and refreshments will be available following the screening. While not required for entry, the group is kindly asking anyone planning on joining to confirm their attendance at their Eventbrite link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hita-talk-a-short-film-fiesta-tickets-1984279750148?aff=oddtdtcreator

For more information, contact Tonya Dee McDaniel at 671-685-5247 or via email at tonyadee.mcdaniel@yahoo.com.

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