THE GEN.T LEADERS OF TOMORROW - Kayla Abuda Galang

The Filipino-American filmmaker continues to break boundaries and tell true-to-life stories-after her win at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival

- Ryanne Stephanie Cheng Co

A stoner comedy set in San Diego won Kayla Abuda Galang the Short Film Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. It’s funny, it’s loud—and it’s very Filipino. When You Left Me on That Boulevard is Galang’s attempt at recapturing adolescence in Paradise Hills. Set in 2006, the short film revolves around a Filipino teenager named Ly and her cousins as they “get high” before Thanksgiving dinner.

This month, the 2023 Gen.T honouree recounts her experience in creating a film—and winning—at the recent Sundance Film Festival.

I’d say the process of creating When You Left Me on That Boulevard was very communal and generative.