Vancouver’s Filipino community is getting another major cultural event this month.
The Filipino Legacy Society (FLS) is hosting a special Vancouver screening of Nurse the Dead on September 29 at Cineplex Cinemas Marine Gateway and VIP. The event will bring together filmmakers, healthcare professionals, community leaders and families for a night celebrating Filipino storytelling, representation and culture.
It also continues a busy month for FLS. Earlier in September, the organization hosted a complimentary screening of DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island. Reserved seating for that event filled within 24 hours.
Now, the Filipino Legacy Society is turning its attention to Nurse the Dead.
What is Nurse the Dead?
Nurse the Dead is a supernatural comedy-drama centred on Noa Reyes, a nurse supervisor who can see ghosts. The series has been described by organizers as the first Filipino studio-produced series filmed in Hollywood. That milestone is one of the main reasons FLS wanted to bring the project to Vancouver.
“Filipino stories deserve to be seen, heard and told on the biggest stages,” said Warren Dean Flandez, Chair of the Filipino Legacy Society. “We are proud to honour this new generation of storytellers and share their voices with the broader Vancouver community.”
The September 29 event will give local audiences a chance to meet members of the creative team behind the series.
Attendees can expect appearances from series lead Jelynn Malone, directors Wesley Villarica and Drea Castro, creator and showrunner Mark Labella, and producer Marvin Aritrangco.
The event will also feature a red carpet and a Q&A with members of the Nurse the Dead team.
The story also connects to Filipino healthcare workers
The setting of Nurse the Dead carries another connection for many Filipino families.
Nursing and healthcare have long played a major role within Filipino communities across North America. According to information provided by organizers, Filipino Americans account for roughly one per cent of the U.S. population but four per cent of registered nurses.
That connection is also visible in Canada. Statistics cited by FLS show that in 2023, 21.6 per cent of Filipino Canadians were employed in healthcare and social assistance.
For Flandez, that makes the story particularly relevant to families in Vancouver. “There are so many Filipino families whose stories are connected to healthcare,” he said.
“These growing depictions of our kababayan not only give visibility to our lived experiences but recognize our contributions to caring for the wellbeing of our friends and neighbours, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Filipino Legacy Society is expanding its cultural programming
The Nurse the Dead Vancouver screening is also part of a much bigger story for FLS. The organization has been expanding its cultural programming while working toward a permanent Filipino Cultural Centre in Vancouver. Rather than waiting for a future centre to open, FLS has been building programming now.
That includes film screenings, community gatherings and other cultural events designed to connect Filipino Canadians across generations.
FLS also has an interim civic space at Library Square, giving the organization a physical location where programming and community-building can continue while plans for a permanent cultural home move forward.
The long-term vision is to create a permanent institution dedicated to Filipino culture, history, education, arts and community life. The strong response to the Forgotten Island screening offered an early indication of demand. That event filled its reserved seating within one day of being announced.
Meanwhile, the Nurse the Dead screening gives FLS another opportunity to connect cultural programming with a new generation of Filipino filmmakers and artists.
“As we look towards building a permanent home for our community in Vancouver, we are excited to also build its cultural foundations,” said Flandez.
“We hope September’s Nurse the Dead screening will inspire the next generation of Filipino artists, leaders, and community builders.”
Acting and screenwriting workshops are also planned
The September 29 event will offer more than a film screening. Attendees interested in working in entertainment can also take part in introductory workshops focused on acting and screenwriting. The workshops are designed to give participants a look at how the Hollywood industry works.
No previous experience is required. Those interested in the workshops can contact [email protected] for registration information.
Nurse the Dead Vancouver screening details
The Filipino Legacy Society’s Nurse the Dead event takes place on Tuesday, September 29 at Cineplex Cinemas Marine Gateway and VIP in Vancouver.
The evening will include the screening, red carpet appearances and a Q&A with members of the series’ creative team.
The event is one of several new cultural initiatives from FLS as the organization continues building its presence in Vancouver and working toward a permanent Filipino Cultural Centre.
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