MORE AND MORE – The last time, Highspeed noted that more and more Filipino films are joining international film festivals. Competition or exhibition categories. Well, there are more local movies in world cinema events.
In the ongoing Osaka (Japan) Asian Film Festival, nine local films are represented.
In competition are Jerrold Tarog’s “Bliss,” Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo’s “Kita Kita,” and Borgy Torre’s “Tisay.” They are in the running for the Grand Prix and Most Promising Talent honors.
Mario Cornejo’s “Apocalypse Child,” which won awards last year in international filmfests, is part of the Special Program called “In & Out of Work: Looking at Asia through the Prism of Employment.”
Five more Filipino films are showcased in the Special Program called “New Action! Southeast Asia.” They are Samantha Lee’s “Baka Bukas” Mikhail Red’s “Birdshot,” Mink Vergara’s “Patintero: Ang Alamat ni Meng Patalo,” Bradley Liew’s “Singing Graveyards,” and Avid Liongoren’s “Saving Sally.”
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AMSTERDAM – Two local films are in CinemAsia filmfest in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Baby Ruth Villarama’s “Sunday Beauty Queen” and Ivan Andrew Payawal’s “I America.”
Earlier, Highspeed reported that Jun Lana’s “Die Beautiful,” topbilled by Paolo Ballesteros, is competing in Amsterdam’s Pink Film Days Festival, vying for best feature film and Audience Choice in the LGBTQ fest.
Learned that “Die Beautiful” is invited to join more international filmfests. It earlier gave Paolo the best actor award in Tokyo.
Also part of the Pink filmfest is Leo Chiang and Johnny Symon’s docu “Out Run,” which focuses on Ladlad, said to be the only political party entirely devoted to the LGBT community.
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WINNERS – In Colombia, JP Habac’s “Maria” won special jury mention at the 14th Bogota (Colombia) Short Film Festival.
It tells the stories in 11 minutes of a 14-year-old girl who’s suspected of being pregnant but her family and a 50-year-old woman who gives birth to her 22nd child.
In Singapore, PR Patindol’s short film, “Hilom” bagged the Youth Jury Prize at the Silver Screen Awards held in Singapore. “Hilom” follows the journey of twin brothers as they search for their identities and grapple with meaning of sexuality.
By the way, John Day’s animated short (18 minutes), “Matud Nila,” premieres in Queens. It tells of the daily lives of Filipinos—their hopes and dreams—during World War II.