FilAm produced film to launch at Cannes Film Festival 2025
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San Francisco: OneUp Film Studios’ The Road to Sydney by Benito Bautista will be participating at the Marche’ du Film at the Cannes Film Festival 2025.
Sydney Loyola, a trans woman and acclaimed Philippine dance master and choreographer, shares a deeply personal journey in the documentary film, The Road to Sydney. Helmed by Benito Bautista (HARANA: The Search for the Lost Art of Serenade) The Road to Sydney is scheduled to screen at this year’s Marche’ du Film at the Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 9:00 AM at Palais D, and on May 21 at 9:30 AM at Palais C.
The screening is exclusive to the film market’s industry badge holders. OneUp Film Studios, the producers of the film, seeks to connect with film programmers, sales representatives, and distributors attending the film market to explore potential collaborations and partnerships.
“This film is a tribute to Sydney’s resilience and a call for greater empathy toward the transgender community,” says director Bautista. “I want this film to highlight the struggles faced by the transgender community and tell a powerful human story that fosters empathy and respect. My hope is that it inspires audiences to become allies and helps reduce the tragic challenges faced by the transgender youth.”
From a young age, Sydney endured emotional and physical abuse—not just from the local kids and townsfolk, but also from her father. To shield herself, she concealed her deep desire to embrace her true identity. Encouraged by her mother, she discovered dance, which became her refuge from the discrimination and pain she experienced. With dedication, she honed her skills as a choreographer and ultimately moved to America, seeking a more compassionate and accepting society.
Born and raised in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines, Sydney Loyola found solace in dance while enduring bullying during her childhood. Her passion led her to perform with the world-renowned Bayanihan Dance Company and later established herself as a premier choreographer of Philippine folk dance in the San Francisco Bay Area. Now facing the challenges of job loss and the threat of eviction following her gender affirmation and transition, Sydney begins a transformative path toward healing. The Road to Sydney follows Sydney’s journey as she embraces life as a woman—reconnecting with her cultural roots, reclaiming her artistry, and seeking reconciliation with her estranged father.
The Road to Sydney began production in 2017 and was completed in March 2025. Initially intended to document Sydney’s gender affirmation journey, the film evolved over eight years as unexpected events unfolded. During the course of filming, Sydney was dismissed and evicted by the same company that had originally employed her—bringing new depth and urgency to the story.
The film weaves together the stories of Sydney’s friends, each grappling with discrimination, labeling, transition, struggle, physical abuse, and eventual triumph. It’s a compelling testament to resilience in the face of discrimination, offering a nuanced exploration of dance as a form of self-expression that rises above gender and societal bias.
“At OneUp Film Studios, we are committed to amplifying LGBTQ+ voices through powerful storytelling. The Road to Sydney shines a light on the lived experience of a trans woman of color, and we’re proud to support a film that challenges prejudice, fosters understanding, and celebrates authenticity. Sydney’s journey is not just inspiring—it’s necessary,” says Sonia Delen, an executive producer of the film.
Meet the Team:
Benito Bautista - Writer/Director/Producer
Benito Bautista is a Filipino American filmmaker who tells stories close to his heart—often rooted in social justice and told from the perspectives of underrepresented communities. His critically acclaimed films include Harana: The Search for the Lost Art of Serenade (recipient of the Gawad Urian Best Documentary Award, the Asian Network of Documentary Award at the Busan International Film Festival, and multiple Audience Awards recipient including from the CAAMFest and from the Hawaii International Film Festival); The Gift of Barong: a Journey from Within (distributed by Stanford University’s program for international and cross-cultural education); and BOUNDARY (NETPAC Award winner at the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival). Benito also worked on two feature documentaries—serving as producer on A Long March by T.S. Botkin and as co-producer on A is for Agustin by Grace Simbulan.
Benito co-founded the non-profit organization San Diego Filipino Cinema, presenter of the San Diego Filipino Film Festival. SDFFF is home of the largest curation of global Filipino cinema in Northern America. IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3480671/
Emma Francisco - Producer
Emma Francisco believes in cinema’s power to inspire positive change in communities. Her first feature film BOUNDARY by Benito Bautista, received the NETPAC Best Film Award at the 2011 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and received the National Commission for Culture & the Arts award. Emma served on two feature documentaries as a Co-Producer on A is for Agustin by Grace Simbulan and as an Associate Producer for A Long March by T.S. Botkin. In 2024, the short film “Amazing Grace” she produced with director Aiden Keltner received the NATAS PSW Emmy Awards for Best Arts/Entertainment Program, Best Director, and Best Performer.
Emma is the Managing Partner at Wanderlustproject Films. She co-founded the non-profit organization San Diego Filipino Cinema and serves as its Programming Director. San Diego Filipino Film Festival, presented by SDFC is home to the largest curation and exhibition of independent Filipino films in North America. IMDb https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4550324/
OneUp Film Studios Producers/Executive Producers:
Sonia Delen, Wendy Pascual, Conrad (Radi) Calalang
Music Composer - Michael Dadap
Editor - Cheryl Centeno
Director of Photography - Vuong Tran
Sound Design - John Michael Perez & Mikko Quizon
