2016: Phl films shine in int’l filmfests

(Second of two parts)

Here’s the continuation of the roster of achievers in international film festivals (compiled by Funfare contributor Celso de Guzman Caparas):

• Area, directed by Louie Ignacio — Special Jury Prize at the 12th Eurasia International Film Festival, Kazakhstan.
• Sandra, a 15-minute short film directed by Carlo Francisco Manatad — Best Film at the 8th Timishort Film Festival, Romania.
• Caretaker, directed by Seymour Barros Sanchez — Second place at the 6th CAM International Festival for Short Films, Egypt.
• Crescent Rising, written and directed by Sheron Dayoc — BIFF Mecenat Award for Best Asian Documentary at the 21st Busan International Film Festival, South Korea, with approximately $10,000 grant.
• Die Beautiful, starring Paolo Ballesteros and directed by Jun Robles Lana — Audience Choice Award at the 29th Tokyo International Film Festival.
• Birdshot, written and directed by Mikhail Red — Best Asian Future Film at the 29th Tokyo International Film Festival, Japan, Nov. 3, with $10,000 cash prize.
• Blood Hunters, written and directed by Vincent Soberano — Best Short Film, UAS Angels of Action category at the 4th Urban Action Showcase International Action Film Festival, New York City.
• Alipato: The Very Brief Life of an Ember, written (with Achinette Villamor) and directed by Khavn dela Cruz — Special Jury Mention at the 22nd Geneva International Film Festival, Switzerland.
• Sina Igme at Gani, a 25-minute short film written and directed by Jhayle Ann Marie Meer — Best Filipino Short Film at the 4th Salamindanaw Asian Film Festival, General Santos City, Philippines.
• Apocalypse Child, written (with Monster Jimenez) and directed by Mario Cornejo — Fasken Martineau Best Feature Film Award, with $4,000 cash prize, at the 20th Reel Asian International Film Festival in Toronto; and People’s Jury’s Main Award at the 10th Five Flavours Film Festival, Poland.
• Ignacio de Loyola, written and directed by Paolo Dy — Audience Choice Award (Gran Premio del Publico) at the 12th Festival Internacional de Cine con Valores, Mexico.
• Hilom (Still), directed by PR Patindol — Youth Jury Prize — Southeast Asian Short Film, Silver Screen Awards at the 27th Singapore International Film Festival.
• Pintakasi, directed by Erik Matti — Crouching Tigers Award for Best Pitch, with $10,000 cash prize, at the The Crouching Tigers Project Club of the 1st International Film Festival and Awards Macao.
• Other winning Philippine entries at the 7th International Film Festival Manhattan, New York City: Best Student Film — The Equation by Rhoda Joy Blaza (USA/Philippines)…Best Music Video: Exist — Kirby Assunto Music Video by Kurt D. Fick (USA/Philippines)…IFFM Most Popular — Magtanggol by Sigfreid Barros-Sanchez…Best Short — Lucky Jinx by Giovanni Baldeserri… Best Actor Short — Leon Miguel for Redlights by Christian La (Canada/Philippines)…Best Socially Relevant Film — Filemon Mamon by Will Fredo…and Best Feature Global — Gemini by Ato Bautista.
• Carlo Jay Ortega Cuevas for Walang Take Two (No Second Take) — Best Director in a Foreign Language Film at the 8th International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema, London, United Kingdom; and Platinum World Awards for World Newcomer Filmmaker of the Year at the 4th World Film Awards, Indonesia.
• Carlo Enciso Catu for Ari (My Life With A King) — Talented New Director Award at the 8th International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema, London, United Kingdom; and Bronze Remi (First Feature) at the 49th WorldFest International Independent Film Festival, Texas, USA.
• Brillante Mendoza — India Catalina Award in recognition of his sterling contribution as a film director at the 56th International Film Festival of Cartagena, Colombia; and Best Director for Ma’Rosa at the 54th Gijón International Film Festival (54 Festival Internacional de Cine de Gijón), Spain.
• Eduardo Roy Jr. for Pamilya Ordinaryo (Ordinary People) — Best Director at the 4th Hanoi International Film Festival, Vietnam; and Special Jury Mention for Directing at the 1st London East Asia, United Kingdom. One of the stars is Hasmine Killip.
• Neil Daza for 1st Sem — Award of Recognition in Cinematography at the Cinema World Fest Awards, Ottawa, Canada.
• Marco Felipe Villas Lopez for The Sister, directed by Joseph Israel Laban — Best Cinematography-Feature Program at the 11th Harlem International Film Festival, New York, USA.
• Ricky Lee — Lifetime Achievement Award in Screenwriting at the 7th International Film Festival Manhattan, New York City, USA.

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