Young filmmakers feted at DLSU Indie fest

MANILA, Philippines - A young Bulakenyo filmmaker and six others were feted in the Indie Un-Film 2012 annual interschool digital film competition held at the De La Salle University (DLSU).

Herwin Cabasal, a 26-year-old student of the Asia Pacific Film Institute (APFI), grabbed the Best Director and Best Screenplay awards for his short film Viscera.

It is the third award in just a month received by Herwin for the film after he received the Best Director award in the eighth Art Film Festival held at the Philippine Women’s University in early March.

The other winners included Gian Caluag, also of APFI, who received the Best Experimental Video award for his film My s2nd Short or How She Couldn’t Get Out of that Staircase. Natileigh Sitoy of DLSU College of St. Benilde earned the Best Music Video for the film Bright Yellow.

The Best Documentary Film was awarded to Banat ni Balagtas by Ma. Veronica Santiago of the Far Eastern University. The Best Feature Film was awarded to Delusyon, a short produced and directed by Archie Miranda and Kel Serrano, both of DLSU College of St. Benilde.

The Best Cinematography and People’s Choice awards were snatched by DLSU student Kat de Silva’s On Thin Ice. 

“It is another surprise, a double surprise. I feel so blessed. It’s a back-to-back birthday gift for me. I’ve never thought that my short film would have come that far. It inspires me to always be the best in what I do, win or lose,” said Herwin, who turned 26 last March 24, in an interview.

Like his feat at PWU’s Art Film Festival, he said that he did not expect to win.

Herwin said that joining the annual interschool digital film competition at DLSU was part of his attempt get more critique on his film.

“I want to know what judges think of my film and it was fortunate that it was given recognition,” said Herwin, who also works at ABS-CBN.

For winning the Best Director and Best Screenplay awards, Herwin took home a total cash prize of P8,000.