1st Karansa Short Film Fest winners showcase Danao City and its people
CEBU, Philippines — “Higayon,” a romantic drama about young female lovers in Danao City, won Best Short Film at the first Karansa Short Film Festival during the Danao City Tourism Summit 2024 held at September 2 at SM Seaside City.
Produced by Kasikas Productions, “Higayon” focuses on Pam, who takes care of her terminally ill girlfriend, Fey. As Fey’s condition worsens, Pam experiences a surreal event that might give her the epiphany she needs.
“What we want to tell people about our short is that life is more than just our relationships. We should move on from the past and continue to thrive in the future,” director Cris Batucan told The FREEMAN following their win.
The entry also took home awards for Best Cinematography and Best Story, based on Batucan’s script with co-writer Christian Brave Omecillo.
Securing second place for Best Short Film was the horror-comedy “Sagubang” by KERF Productions, which tells the story of a group of college classmates who experience a surreal cultural tour around Danao.
It was also the most awarded, earning four other trophies, including for Best Director for Kyle Jake Serie, Best Production Design, Best Editing, and Best Sound Design.
Landing in third place was “Gabon” by JMS Productions, inspired by the true story of a Danawanon family with a dark secret. It was also chosen for Best Poster and Best Trailer.
In the acting categories, Niño James Bughao and Jastine Ray Narvasa won Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively, for their performances in the comedy “Murag Anak sa Dato.”
“Sa Wa Damha” actresses Evita Quismundo and Tess Montes, meanwhile, took home the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress awards, respectively.
What these winning shorts — along with the remaining entry “Kasing Kasing” — have in common is that they all promote northern Cebu's Danao City and its people, a central theme of the festival's maiden edition organized by the LGU.
“All these entries reflect what Danao City is. It’s about promoting and advocating for what Danao City can offer, not just to Cebu, but also to Philippine and global tourism. They’re rooted in showcasing what the city has to offer,” explained indie actress Ligaya Rabago, who was one of the judges alongside filmmaker Marlon Douglas Hofer, cinematographer John Silver, director Redh Honoridez, and screenwriter Lester Kyle Paes. The panel also mentored participants during the Karansa Short Film Festival Workshop held a month prior.
“In ‘Higayon,’ we showed the beauty of Danao City through a montage. Along with other films, you can see what Danao City has to offer in terms of culture, hotspots, and food,” Batucan said.
“We wanted to emphasize in 'Sagubang' that no matter where you go, if you’re a Danawanon, Danao will always be your home,” Serie added, noting how his short highlights key areas of the city to showcase its beauty.
Local officials noted that supporting Danawanon filmmakers is a crucial step in promoting the city’s tourism efforts as the LGU prepares for this year’s Karansa Festival on Sept. 15.
Hon. Carmen Remedios Durano, Chairperson of the Committee on Tourism and External Affairs, stated, “We aim to discover and develop creatives in Danao City through our short film festival. The quality of work from these beginners is so impressive, you wouldn’t think they were first-time filmmakers.”
Danao City Mayor Thomas Mark Durano added, “We’re doing this for the new generation of Danawanons. We want to encourage these young filmmakers to think outside the box and showcase their talents for the city.” — (FREEMAN)
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