Family Ties (2026)

In this intimate documentary, a filmmaker turns the camera on her own grandparents, Elenea and Manuel Papelera, as they open up about their childhoods in the Philippines during the final days of WWII and the harrowing years of Japanese occupation. They reflect on how those formative experiences shaped their worldview, their resilience, and ultimately, the way they chose to raise their own children. From vivid recollections of youth under martial law, to the bold decision to leave everything behind and start fresh in Australia, to the years of backbreaking labor that built a new life—their story is one of sacrifice and survival. As the filmmaker listens to her Lola and Lolo, she uncovers a profound and personal link to her Filipino roots. Spanning two countries and three generations of struggle and triumph, her family’s legacy endures—now celebrated not in hardship, but in the joyful chaos of weekend Mahjong games with friends.