Interview: Kristine Gerolaga / Lamok – 2024 Sundance Screenwriters Lab Fellow

Further proof that the Sundance Institute’s Labs have made a firm commitment to include projects that fall in just about every genre, one of the filmmakers to find a sweet spot with the group is Kristine Gerolaga and her forthcoming fantasy horror feature film project that will not only introduce future viewers to a neat creature, but the flipside of a conversation that is still of the times. With a half dozen shorts in including her most recent being “Mosquito Lady,” Gerolaga is now focusing on Lamok – which will be utilizing the background of the Philippines. We discussed how she’ll approach the project and the personal experiences that helped shape the project.

Sundance project synopsis: A Filipino woman determined to avenge the death of her daughter following a botched abortion finds her worldview dramatically altered after she is cursed to transform nightly into a fetus-eating creature known as the manananggal.

Throughout this week, we’ll be featuring profiles of several fellows from the recent 2024 Sundance Screenwriters Labs, all of whom we had the pleasure of speaking with during the Sundance Film Festival. Some of these projects are slated to become future films and may even debut in Park City, while a smaller fraction might not find their way to the big screen. However, being part of this select group serves as a significant source of encouragement and progression within the film industry. What’s particularly inspiring is witnessing how each of these distinctive voices is crafting original works spanning various genres, often exploring themes of politics and social engagement through cinema.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Ilyse McKimmie and all the talented artists Claire Fowler, Francesca Canepa & Miguel Ángel Papalini, Jane Casey Modderno, Hanna Gray Organschi, Kristine Gerolaga, Sara Crow & David Rafailedes, and Christian Moldes — they generously spared their time to meet with us. Despite their hectic schedules and fresh experiences from the labs, they felt comfortable discussing projects and worth noting this is one of the earliest instances where we’ve had the opportunity to delve into projects still in their developmental stages.