Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea continues to brave troubled waters even after its world premiere. On June 30, the Baby Ruth Villarama-directed documentary, which chronicles the dangers faced by Filipino coast guards and fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea, debuted at the New Zealand Doc Edge Festival. The film went on to win the festival’s Tides of Change Award under the Festival Category. However, tensions rose when New Zealand’s Chinese Consulate reached out to Doc Edge’s organizers requesting that future screenings of Food Delivery be canceled.
As reported by 1News, the consulate repeatedly called several members of the festival’s ticketing staff and board members before sending its request via email. “The documentary… is rife with disinformation and false propaganda,” the Consulate said, “serving as a political tool for [the] Philippines to pursue illegitimate claims in the South China Sea. Its screening would severely mislead the public and send the wrong message internationally.”
“Doc Edge has done what many are afraid to do,” Food Delivery producer Chuck Gutierrez told Rolling Stone Philippines. “They’ve created a platform where voices from around the world can be heard, no matter how uncomfortable or inconvenient the truth may be.”
In response, Doc Edge has refused the consulate’s request, emphasizing that the festival is meant to be a “voice for independent filmmakers.” Food Delivery is scheduled for two more screenings this July. “This festival didn’t just host our story,” Villarama told Rolling Stone Philippines. “They stood by it, protected it, and honored the sacred space of sharing it with the audience.”
Show of Resistance
Gutierrez claimed that, despite the Food Delivery team openly inviting the Chinese Consulate to watch the film, they were met instead with silence and pressure. “One of their diplomats even told the Doc Edge director that he didn’t need to see [Food Delivery] to know it’s false,” said Gutierrez. “Why? Because of the title. According to him, there’s no such thing as the West Philippine Sea.”
“I actually waited for them at the cinema,” added Gutierrez. “I was ready with popcorn and soda, even considered throwing in a large combo. But not a single soul from the Chinese Embassy came to either of our screenings. Maybe [the] truth just makes them uncomfortable.”
Despite the controversy, the film has been positively received by audiences in New Zealand. “We were moved by Kiwis who saw reflections of their own struggles,” said Gutierrez, “and by Filipino migrants who were learning about this story for the first time. That hit deep.”
“Our invitation to the Chinese Embassy still stands,” continued Gutierrez. “And while we are at it, we would also like to invite President Xi Jinping to watch Food Delivery. They keep saying China is our friend; well, friends listen. We watch their films. Now it’s time for them to watch [ours].”
Food Delivery first made national headlines when it was suddenly pulled from the PureGold CinePanalo Film Festival on March 12, just two days before its scheduled screening. A joint statement from Villarama and festival director Chris Cahilig cited “external factors” as the reason for the withdrawal. As of writing, no national screenings have been scheduled for the film.
