MAJOR VICTORY – Cannes International Film Festival is one of three major cinema events in the world, along with Berlin and Venice. Jaclyn Jose’s best actress award for “Ma’ Rosa” is truly a major victory for the Philippines. She deserves all the accolades she’s receiving. Jaclyn won over much bigger names like Isabelle Huppert and Marion Cotillard. Make that “major, major victory.”
The director of “Ma’ Rosa,” Brillante Mendoza, is himself a Cannes awardee years back, best director for “Katayan.”
Come to think of it, Raymond Red’s short film “Anino,” topbilled by Eddie Garcia, won Cannes’ best short film, Palme d’Or.
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PHILIPPINE PARTICIPATION – In the ’70s and ’80s, Lino Brocka made waves in Cannes via films like “Insiang,” “Bona,” “Jaguar,” “Kapit sa Patalim,” and “Orapronobis.”
“Insiang” is credited as being the first which joined Cannes. But in Bibsy Carballo’s book, it turned out that in the ’50s, Bert Avellana’s “Kandelerong Pilak” was shown in Cannes.
Mike de Leon’s “Batch ’81” and “Kisapmata” were also shown in Cannes.
By the way, “Ma’ Rosa” is Brillante’s fifth Cannes film, after “Foster Child,” “Serbis,” “Kinatay,” and “Taklub.”
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VENICE – In the ’50s Manuel Conde’s “Genghis Khan” made waves in Venice, picked up by a major Hollywood company for worldwide distribution.
In the ’90s and 2000s Filipino films were shown in Venice, the latest of which is (again) Brillantes Mendoza’s “Thy Womb,” where critics hailed Nora Aunor best actress, with a beautiful trophy to boot.
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BERLIN – In the ’80s, Nora Aunor very nearly won best actress for Ishmael Bernal’s “Himala.” This according to the late Hammy Sotto, who covered the event.
Of course, this year Lav Diaz won Berlinale’s Silver Bear for “Hele,” which lasted for all of eight hours.
In the ’70s Kidlat Tahimik’s “Perfumed Nightmare” (Mababangong Bangungut) won best docu.
Maryo J. delos Reyes’ “Magnifico,” Carlitos Siguion Reyna’s “Ang Lalake sa Buhay ni Selya,” and Joey Reyes’ “Live Show” (Toro) were well received in Berlin.