#FIRSTLOOK: CBC DOCU-COMEDY SHORT “15 WAYS MY DAD ALMOST DIED”

The highly anticipated CBC docu-comedy short film 15 Ways My Dad Almost Died, directed by award-winning filmmaker Sura Mallouh and written by Filipina Dora-nominated comedian Alia Rasul, is set to premiere at the 2024 Reel Asian Film Festival on November 16th at 12:00 PM at the TIFF Lightbox (350 King St W) in Toronto. This heartfelt, humorous and important story will be available to a wide audience beginning December 10 on the free CBC Gem streaming service in Canada, and on the CBC Docs YouTube channel internationally.

15 Ways My Dad Almost Died chronicles Filipina-Canadian comedian Alia Rasul connecting with her father, Amroussi, as she tries to mine his ridiculous number of near-death experiences for comedic material. What begins as lighthearted storytelling transforms into a deeper exploration of forgotten history and the power of oration. Alia uncovers her father’s harrowing experiences during the siege of Jolo in 1974, a tragic event in the southern Philippines that resulted in immense loss of life and destruction. The siege led to widespread civilian casualties and the destruction of homes and livelihoods. A media blackout at the time kept much of the world from learning the full extent of the atrocities. This year marks 50 years since Jolo was razed to the ground, and to this day, has not been restored and is rarely talked about.

For Alia’s father, who lived through the devastation, the event became a painful chapter in his life, better left forgotten. Through their conversations, Alia learns not only of the physical danger her father faced—like nearly stepping on a landmine—but also of the grief of having to flee from a beloved hometown, never to return. It dawns on Alia that had she never asked her father for his stories, they would have been lost. This revelation leads Alia to confront her own responsibilities as a storyteller in the context of a world that would rather forget, than be held accountable.

“This film is a love letter to my dad and his hometown of Jolo. In making this, my father and I found our own unique way to keep oral tradition alive,” said Dora-nominated comedian and Tita Collective member, Alia Rasul. “The process of making this film and the conversations involved, shaped who I am now as an artist, it gave me clarity on the kind of stories I want to tell and how I want to tell them. I hope it inspires others to be curious and to ask their loved ones about their stories, I hope it inspires people to look up the Jolo Siege of 1974.”

“15 Ways weaves an endearing father-daughter bonding experience while simultaneously unraveling family dynamics, lost history, and the importance of oral preservation.” said award-winning director Sura Mallouh. “This film is a time capsule honoring Amroussi’s memories. If 15 Ways also allows other communities to feel seen or helps them engage with their personal stories, then I am honored to play a small part in carrying the tradition of oration on. It has been 50 years since the Jolo siege. I hope this film pushes back on the Jolo siege’s erasure and allows for more discourse around preserving family history.”

15 Ways My Dad Almost Died blends verité footage, straight-to-camera stand-up, and animation to tell a unique, heartwarming, and often funny story about survival, family, and the importance of remembering the past. The film serves as both a personal memoir and a universal story about the enduring bonds of family and the legacies we inherit.

The CBC Docs film is directed by Sura Mallouh, written by Alia Ceniza Rasul, produced by Sura Mallouh, Alia Ceniza Rasul, Craig Scorgie, Sahar El-Kadri and executive produced by Jason Loftus.

About CBC/Radio-Canada

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.

About Alia Rasul

Alia Rasul is a Dora-nominated Filipina comedian. With a passion for telling stories about the Filipin* diaspora, Alia has created, produced and performed in multiple award-winning projects including Moro Girl, Tita Jokes and Miss Titaverse. Alia is a member of the Tita Collective, a sisterhood of Filipina theatre artists. Additionally, she has recently published her first collection of poetry Super Important Filipina Thoughts. She is currently the managing artistic director of Bad Dog Theatre Company.

About Sura Mallouh

Sura Mallouh is an award-winning Palestinian-Canadian filmmaker. In 2021, she was listed as a 40 under 40 documentary star to watch co-presented by HBO Documentary Films and DOC NYC. Sura’s work amplifies underrepresented investigative stories and has been streamed and broadcast globally. She is a Sundance Institute and NBC Original Voices alum and most recently mentored artists for the NBC Accelerator Fellowship.