Give as a gift
This film block centers on people who have chosen to take responsibility for vulnerable lives, often in the face of loss, risk, or uncertainty. Across fire circles, forests, wetlands, wildlife hospitals, and mountain landscapes, these films document acts of protection rooted in devotion rather than spectacle.
Wildlife rehabilitators fight to continue their work after displacement, conservationists dedicate their lives to endangered species, scientists and community members advocate for overlooked animals, and cultural leaders preserve knowledge essential to coexistence with the natural world. Together, the films reveal protection not as a single act, but as an ongoing commitment shaped by belief and the willingness to act.
In Filipino, “ahon” means to rise, emerge, or break through a surface. “Ahon” recounts the rise of the K8 Mountaineering Club of Alberta, a non-profit organization that breaks barriers and helps Filipino Canadians reach new heights in the Canadian Rockies by providing access to education, equipment, and community. Ahon follows K8 Founder Levi Ramos and current President Leonard Maglalang over the course of a season with the K8 Mountaineering Club. The film blends hiking, scrambling, mountaineering, ice climbing, and social gatherings with stories of the club's humble beginnings and the struggles Filipino Canadian immigrants must overcome to reach a place of comfort and belonging in Canada's mountains.
The film showcases Filipino food, culture, games, and even backcountry karaoke before culminating with K8's attempts to push their capabilities and summit Howse Peak, an iconic objective in Banff National Park. Using climbing as a metaphor for the hurdles immigrants must overcome, the film explores themes of identity, community, and Filipino representation in the outdoors.
- Year2025
- Runtime21:16
- LanguageEnglish, Tagalog
- CountryCanada
- GenreAdventure , Canadian , Climbing , Diversity , Mental Health
- DirectorTrixie Pacis
- CinematographerTrixie Pacis, Jomarie Anza, Carlo Alcos
- EditorCarlo Alcos
- ComposerDiane Vallesteros
- Sound DesignCarlo Alcos
This film block centers on people who have chosen to take responsibility for vulnerable lives, often in the face of loss, risk, or uncertainty. Across fire circles, forests, wetlands, wildlife hospitals, and mountain landscapes, these films document acts of protection rooted in devotion rather than spectacle.
Wildlife rehabilitators fight to continue their work after displacement, conservationists dedicate their lives to endangered species, scientists and community members advocate for overlooked animals, and cultural leaders preserve knowledge essential to coexistence with the natural world. Together, the films reveal protection not as a single act, but as an ongoing commitment shaped by belief and the willingness to act.
In Filipino, “ahon” means to rise, emerge, or break through a surface. “Ahon” recounts the rise of the K8 Mountaineering Club of Alberta, a non-profit organization that breaks barriers and helps Filipino Canadians reach new heights in the Canadian Rockies by providing access to education, equipment, and community. Ahon follows K8 Founder Levi Ramos and current President Leonard Maglalang over the course of a season with the K8 Mountaineering Club. The film blends hiking, scrambling, mountaineering, ice climbing, and social gatherings with stories of the club's humble beginnings and the struggles Filipino Canadian immigrants must overcome to reach a place of comfort and belonging in Canada's mountains.
The film showcases Filipino food, culture, games, and even backcountry karaoke before culminating with K8's attempts to push their capabilities and summit Howse Peak, an iconic objective in Banff National Park. Using climbing as a metaphor for the hurdles immigrants must overcome, the film explores themes of identity, community, and Filipino representation in the outdoors.
- Year2025
- Runtime21:16
- LanguageEnglish, Tagalog
- CountryCanada
- GenreAdventure , Canadian , Climbing , Diversity , Mental Health
- DirectorTrixie Pacis
- CinematographerTrixie Pacis, Jomarie Anza, Carlo Alcos
- EditorCarlo Alcos
- ComposerDiane Vallesteros
- Sound DesignCarlo Alcos