A panel discussion for the comedy-drama series Ina reveals how personal cultural struggles and identity inspired its historic selection for the 2026 Canneseries.
Key Points
- Writer and director Rachel Maxine Anderson described navigating a mixed-race identity where Western culture was heavily glamorised growing up.
- The filmmaker used the iconic Filipino dessert halo-halo as a core metaphor for reconciling personal trauma, history, and multicultural identity.
- The six-part digital series was launched for free on YouTube on Philippine Independence Day to ensure democratic access for international audiences.
I picked up growing up that whiteness was so glamorised... there was also this feeling like, 'Oh, I was so lucky to be half.' I feel very proud to be half-half, mixed-mixed, a mixed-up kid. Like halo-halo literally translates to 'mix-mix' and yeah I just I just couldn't let go of that... It's not in the spirit of this dish to judge its mixture, and I will forever remember that whenever I eat my halo-halo.Rachel Maxine Anderson, Filipina-Australian Writer/Director
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