Norte named Best Picture in Serbia Filmfest

Lav Diaz is at it again — that is, winning awards abroad.

Close on the heels of Mula Sa Kung Ano Ang Noon (From What is Before) winning Best Picture at the recent Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland, Lav’s Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan (at four hours and 10 minutes, one of the shortest of his works) bagged the Best Film Award at the just-concluded First Pancevo Film Festival in Serbia.

Funfare contributor Celso de Guzman Caparas quoted the jury’s statement:

The Filipino film Norte, the End of History exposes the influence that unsolved and catastrophic tensions of modern-day social relationships and processes have on the individual, and on his feelings of ethics, justice, and responsibility. Director Lav Diaz confronts the questions posed by Dostoyevsky in Crime and Punishment with contemporary and different ideological concepts. By using a specific and original film language (long shots, authentic and almost documentary-like acting, a suggestive narrative) Norte manages to tell a shockingly epic story which denounces contemporary civilization.

Noted Celso, “The jury was composed of Vladislava Milosavljevi? (Serbian actress), Bobo Jel?i? (Croatian film and theater director) and Branislav Dimitrijevi? (Serbian art historian, critic and curator).”

The Pancevo event is an international short and feature film festival held from Sept. 3 to Sept. 7 in Pan?evo which is one of the biggest industrial towns in Serbia. The filmfest featured more than 50 international titles, ranging from documentaries and fiction films, to experimental and essay films of short, medium and long meter, screened at several locations and cinemas. 

At this year’s Urian Awards, Norte also won Best Picture and Best Actress (for Angeli Bayani). It’s showing in some Metro Manila theaters until Sept. 16. Watch it.

Triumphant homecoming for Rebecca Lusterio

Remember Rebecca “Bikay” Lusterio, the girl discovered by fellow Boholano Cesar Montano while selling seashells at Alona Beach (named after Alona Alegre who shot a movie there with FPJ) in Panglao, Bohol?

Bikay was introduced in Muro-Ami (directed by the late Marilou Diaz-Abaya, also Bikay’s discoverer) for which she won a FAMAS Best Child Actress award, and then cast in Panaghoy sa Suba (which Cesar himself directed) and won Best Supporting Actress at a Metro Filmfest. For her third film, Ligalig, Bikay was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.

Sadly, Bikay was unable to personally receive her award because she didn’t have money for airfare to Manila. Even after her short but successful stint in showbiz, Bikay continued her high school studies by helping her mother sell seashells. Her father owned a banca which he rented for dolphin-watching and diving.

Due to financial constraints, Bikay thought she couldn’t go on to college. The STAR reported Bikay’s plight which caught the attention of San Juan de Letran which gave her a scholarship grant until she graduated in March 2010. Bikay paid us a surprise visit after graduation and thanked us with a huge cake.

I didn’t know that Bikay pursued further studies in Copenhagen for a Master’s degree. It was there where she met her boyfriend, Thomas Mejiso, who accompanied Bikay on her homecoming after having been away for two years.

“Bikay and Thomas came home to attend Hudyaka, Panglao’s most colorful festival honoring the Blessed San Agustin,” reported Leo Udtohan, Funfare’s Bohol correspondent who is Bikay’s staunch supporter. “Her presence at the fiesta made the event more memorable for her fellow Panglaoanons.

“Bikay and Thomas made a sentimental visit to the Alona Beach. They also went diving at Balicasag Island, one of the best dive sites in the world, and stopped by at the Chocolate Hills which remains beautiful even after parts were ruined by the killer earthquake that hit Bohol last year.”

Leo said that Bikay was happy with Panglao’s great strides in the fields of education, environment and health, and the economy in general.

Will Bikay resume her rudely-interrupted acting career? I doubt it (since she’s deadest on focusing on her studies). Will she and Thomas (they’re engaged) decide to get married not soon but eventually?

“It remains to be seen,” said Leo. “Only time will tell.”

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