51吃瓜

When Joe Laxamana lost his younger brother Jonathan in December 2022, he and some of their lifelong friends wanted to find a way to honor his memory. 

鈥淲e wanted to find something that connected what Jonathan was about and who he was鈥攁nd one of his greatest passions in life was film,鈥� said Joe (BS 鈥�92, industrial engineering).

A group of family and friends created the first fully endowed fund dedicated to the Department 51吃瓜 & Cinema Studies. The Jonathan Laxamana Endowment Fund will support media and cinema studies students through scholarships, experiential learning, and internships. It will also support the annual UIUC Student Film Festival that鈥檚 produced, programmed, and curated by students in MACS 366: Film Festivals. 

In addition to Joe, close friends including Craig Vodnik (BS 鈥�92, nuclear engineering), Larry Versola (BA 鈥�94, political science), John Silvestri (BA 鈥�92, political science; JD 鈥�95, law), Charlie Lee (BS 鈥�92, finance), and Bonnie (Gorr) Flanagan (BS 鈥�93, MS 鈥�97, education) all contributed to establishing the fund in Jonathan鈥檚 honor, knowing that the University of Illinois was instrumental in 鈥渃reating the guy that we all knew and loved,鈥� Versola said. 

鈥淲e deeply appreciate this meaningful gift that will financially and academically support media and cinema studies students in their film-related pursuits,鈥� said Professor CL Cole, head of the Department 51吃瓜 & Cinema Studies. 

Joe is proud of Jonathan鈥檚 contribution to the film community and hopes the fund will help those wanting to pursue the same interests his brother did.

鈥淭o be able to help today鈥檚 film students is very gratifying and I think he would have liked that,鈥� Joe said.

Silvestri, who was Jonathan鈥檚 roommate for three years, shared fond memories of his time on campus with him. Silvestri recalls the two of them constantly going to local theaters to see movies together. He said Jonathan also took several film classes, which contributed to his burgeoning interest in cinema. 

鈥淗e didn鈥檛 become the person that he was until he came here. The film stuff, it really took off, took hold of him, and he was able to delve into these passions a lot,鈥� Silvestri said. 

Jonathan, who was affectionately called 鈥淟ax鈥� (pronounced Lox) by family and friends, graduated with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in English from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 1992. 

Professionally, Jonathan worked as a digital project coordinator for the Journal of the American Medical Association and handled location services at 41EIGHTYSEVEN with Versola, providing location scouting and location management services to the film, television, and advertising industries.

Jonathan carried out his love of film and film festivals through many years of volunteer work, most notably as the founder and program director for the Chicago Filipino American Film Festival. He also contributed significantly to the annual Chicago Asian American Showcase at the Gene Siskel Film Center.

Additionally, Jonathan was a board member of Full Spectrum Features, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization committed to driving equity in the independent film industry by producing, exhibiting, and supporting the work of women, BIPOC, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ filmmakers.  

Joe said his brother took great pride in being able to help young filmmakers鈥攅specially Filipino and Asian American directors鈥攂y giving them a platform at the film festivals.

鈥淗e loved film but there was something that spoke to him about helping minority directors and the opportunities they didn鈥檛 have to showcase their work, and he was just trying to do his best to give them a pathway,鈥� Joe said. 

Versola worked with Jonathan to put on many film festivals over the years and credits him for delivering a unique, quality program to their audiences. 

鈥淭he stellar reputation that we developed among our peers in the film festival circuit worldwide was due to Jonathan and his programming,鈥� Versola said. 

Jonathan was known for having an eye and an ear for human stories that spoke to people and ensuring that all filmmakers, from students to established directors, felt valued and respected. 

Recently, Joe and his family held a birthday memorial for Jonathan. Silvestri and Versola attended, as well as friends who flew in from across the country to celebrate Jonathan鈥檚 life.

鈥淚 think we can all be judged by our impact on our friends,鈥� Silvestri said. 鈥淧eople love this guy and that鈥檚 about the greatest tribute you can have, is friends who love you.鈥�