Northern Marianas College will showcase the work of up and coming local filmmakers when it hosts “Marianas Lens”, a showcase of short and feature films on Thursday, August 22 at American Memorial Park starting at 5:00 pm. Award-winning films will include “Steps on the Shore” by Elijah Pajarillaga, “Two of a Kind” by Jedric Villar, “Home’s Second Chance” by Sheryne Yang, “Tala” by Justin Ocampo, and “ISLA: Isla'n Esperånsa” by Galvin Deleon Guerrero. Screenings will be followed by a panel discussion with some of the filmmakers.
Steps on the Shore
Pajarillaga’s “Steps on the Shore” follows a high school graduate during his last days on island before heading off to College as he grapples with lingering conflicts involving family and his sense of belonging to the island. The film Best Made in the Marianas award at the 2022 Guam International Film Festival, also known as the GIFF. The film, which he wrote, directed, and starred in, bested three other films to win the coveted award.
Pajarillaga is a son of the Marianas who graduated in 2021 from Grace Christian Academy Saipan and is currently pursuing a film degree from Wesleyan University in Connecticut. At Wesleyan, he has also been a videographer for the university’s Communications Department and the Women’s Volleyball Team.
A production still from “Steps on the Shore” by Elijah Pajarillaga
Two of a Kind
Villar’s “Two of a Kind” is a modern Western that serves as a sequel to “Two in a Pack”. The film follows a wanderer who meets an unlikely ally to help clear his name. The film took home the Best Student Film at the AltFF Alternative Film Festival.
Also a son of the Marianas, Villar graduated in 2021 from Mount Carmel School and is currently studying film at Montclaire State University. At the university, he continues to collaborate with other filmmakers as a director, writer, and cinematographer. Villar also composed the score for another film to be screened at “Marianas Lens”, Deleon Guerrero’s “ISLA: Isla'n Esperånsa”.
A production still from “Two of a Kind” by Jedric Villar
Home’s Second Chance
Yang’s “Home’s Second Chance” is a visual poem about the light beauty and dark tragedy of Saipan. Produced as part of the College’s 2023 Cinema on Saipan summer seminar, the film also took home the top Proa Award at the seminar’s concluding film festival.
According to Yang, the film “is a short visual poem of how a home should be taken care of the place we call home.”
A production still from “Home’s Second Chance” by Sheryne Yang
Tala
In Ocampo’s “Tala”, a naive girl struggles with the reality that her father is not the ideal man she's built him up to be as she works towards reconciliation with the other members of her family in this semi- autobiographical family drama. “Tala” has been featured in film festival around the world, including the GIFF, the Cebu International Film Festival, and the Hawaii International Film Festival.
Born and raised on Saipan, Ocampo is the son of Tagalog & Kapampangan immigrants. His directorial debut film, ”We Drank Our Tears: Rafael Mafnas’ Story” won Best of Festival at the the GIFF in 2018, was featured at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival that same year, and is available for rent on Amazon Prime. Ocampo graduated with degrees in Digital Cinema and American Studies at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and is currently the lead media specialist for the Honolulu City Council.
A production still from “Tala” by Justin Ocampo
Isla'n Esperånsa
Deleon Guerrero’s “ISLA: Isla'n Esperånsa” follows a high school math genius who enters the island’s criminal underworld of high-stakes gambling in order to earn enough money to take him and his family to the states. Earlier this year, the film premiered at Hollywood Theatres to a sold-out audience and is currently making its way through the film festival circuit, which has included screenings at the Tokyo Lift-Off Film Festival and the Portland Film Festival. The film is the first of three anthology films that will explore themes of faith, hope, and love in the Marianas.
With almost 30 years in educational leadership, Deleon Guerrero has also produced over 50 stage and film productions ranging from plays by William Shakespeare, Disney musicals, to original scripts. These productions included award-winning films that have been featured in film festivals around the world, such as the “We Drank Our Tears” anthology that tells the stories of indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian civilians surviving during the World War II battles on Saipan.
A production still from “ISLA: Isla'n Esperånsa” by Galvin Deleon Guerrero
Held as part of Northern Marianas College’s Welcome Week for the 2024-2025 academic year, “Marianas Lens” is being coordinated by the College’s Community Development Institute to promote career-technical training in emerging industries like film and videography. For more information about upcoming programs and training opportunities, contact the institute at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (670) 237-6802.
All films will be screened starting at 5:00 pm at American Memorial Park’s Visitors Center Theater. While admission is complimentary, seating is limited on a first-come, first-served basis.