BEA MACAPAGAL

A little bit about me:

          I began directing and writing while in the Media Arts program at Sheridan College with my film “Finder”, a story about two sisters trying to find each other using a toy viewfinder as a teleportation device to different worlds unknown. This sparked my creative love for storytelling and design, and screened at TIFF Bell Lightbox in front of my peers, family and friends. 

          After graduation in 2013, myself and other graduates formed "Camp 905" a filmmaker collective aimed at making narrative short films and web content with a shuffling rolodex of writers and directors specializing in various genres. My first project with this team was “Young Badlands”, a self-funded 7 episode web series that I wrote, directed and co-produced that aired in December 2014. I was nominated for “Outstanding Director” at the LA Webfest, and the series now has 250k+ views on YouTube.

          Following the success of Young Badlands, Camp 905 and myself went to New York to direct my second web series “Here We Wait” funded by Multihyphenate Productions. This 21 episode series had an ensemble cast of 10, and has 3 wins and 31 nominations in various categories at festivals around the world including “Best Director” at Seoul Web Fest. 

           In 2017, my short film "Midnight Toker" took home My Røde Reel's biggest award: Judges' Prize which awarded Camp 905 and myself $50k+ in gear and various film subscriptions from companies like Adobe, Angelbird, Atomos, Blackmagic Design, Film Convert, Kessler Crane, Teradek, ZEISS, and RODE Microphones. It was also a finalist in 5 categories: Best Comedy, Best Cinematography, Best Acting, Best Art Direction, & Best BTS Educational.

          In 2018, I was overjoyed to receive my first Ontario Arts Council Grant with my submission "Norah & Poppy" - a dramatic 10 minute short film that premiered and screened twice at "Reel Asian Film Festival" at TIFF Bell Lightbox in 2019. “Norah & Poppy” will also be screening in CBC’s Short Film Face-off in August 2021, making it 1 of 9 films chosen across Canada to compete. I am most proud of this latest directing endeavour, as it dives into the lives of a first generation Filipino family living in Canada, and the unconditional love of a child - starring 2 real-life sisters Mackenzie and Daelyn DeZilva, and my multi-talented father in his first acting role.

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          I am currently in development for my first feature film "Galabanting" a story about a teenage Filipina girl in 1993 small town Ontario as she tries to navigate the challenging waters of growing up, her sexual identity, and coming to a place of self-acceptance.