Set Hernandez Rongkilyo

Set Hernandez Rongkilyo is a filmmaker and community organizer whose roots come from Bicol, Philippines. As a queer, undocumented immigrant, they dedicate their filmmaking to expand the portrayal of their community on screen. Set directed/produced the award-winning short documentary “COVER/AGE” (2019) about healthcare expansion for undocumented adults. An alumnus of the Disruptors Fellowship, Set is also developing a TV comedy pilot and a feature-length screenplay. Set served as Impact Producer for projects such as "In Plain Sight" (2020) by Cassils and rafa esparza, and the award-winning "Call Her Ganda" (Tribeca, 2018) by PJ Raval. Their work-in-progress documentary, "unseen," has been supported by the Sundance Institute, Doc Society, Firelight Media, among others. Since 2010, Set has been organizing around migrant justice issues from education equity to deportation defense. They are a co-founder of the Undocumented Filmmakers Collective which promotes equity for undocumented immigrants in the film industry. Above all, Set is the fruit of their parents' sacrifices, their siblings' resilience, and their community's nurturing.

‍

ABOUT unseen

"unseen" is a multi-platform documentary that follows the story of Pedro, an aspiring social worker who happens to be a blind, undocumented immigrant. Through ambient sound and experimental cinematography, this “audio-based” film reimagines the accessibility of cinema, while exploring the intersections of immigration, disability, and mental health. Structured as a series of poetic vignettes, "unseen" interweaves the personal, professional, and political layers of Pedro’s life to convey a path towards healing in the face of uncertainty. Beyond the film, the project also has an “audio play” and immersive VR component, in order for it to be as accessible as possible to audiences with disabilities.

‍