GOOD news came one after another over the past weeks, courtesy of local independent films that bagged awards in film festivals abroad.
The latest triumph happened in Tokyo. Francis Xavier Pasion’s Bwaya bagged the grand prize at the Tokyo FilMEX International Film Festival. The film, shot entirely in the Agusan swamps of Mindanao, tells the story of a courageous couple searching helplessly for their missing daughter believed to have been devoured by a crocodile.
It was also adjudged Best Film at the 2014 Cinemalaya Film Festival, where the filmmaker got his initial seed money to fund the project.
Present to receive the festival’s highest honor were Pasion, together with lead actress Angeli Bayani, actor/coproducer RS Francisco, and line producer Sarah Pagcaliwagan. The filmmaker told us that, although the film generated very good feedback and garnered positive reviews, he was keeping his expectations very realistic. “The other competing entries were wonderful, and any of these could have won, so I consider the win as some kind of a miracle, a big blessing. I’m overjoyed, and I share this honor with everyone who worked very hard so we could complete the film.”
Pasion also shared that festival delegates adore
the film’s lead actress, Bayani. “She is very highly regarded by the festival organizers and recognized by the delegations from the other participating countries. After her wonderful performances in Anthony Chen’s Ilo-Ilo and Lav Diaz’s Norte: The End of History, Angeli has certainly risen above the ranks. It is about time that she is accorded the same importance and respect in the Philippines. Remember, Ang Lee referred to Angeli
as a ‘national treasure’. She is more than a star at the Tokyo FilMEX.”
For her part, Bayani is elated that the members of the jury favored the lone Philippine entry.
“It was nerve-racking prior to the announcement. I’m happy that there is now so much respect for films coming from our country. I hope our government will also sincerely support the films that compete in international festivals.”
While in Japan, Bayani also received the good news that Diaz’s film has been nominated in the American Independent Spirit Awards under the Best Foreign Film category. Norte will slug it out with the other finalists from Sweden, Poland, the United Kingdom, Canada and Russia.
Bayani added, “I hope our winning streak continues.”
A few days before the Tokyo victory, the Philippines also made a big splash at the Hanoi International Film Festival. Jason Paul Laxamana’s Ang Magkakabaung (The Coffin Maker) received the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema Award and its lead actor, Allen Dizon, was named Best Lead Actor.
The honor in Vietnam is the second acting plum
ºfor Dizon for the same film, having won the best-actor prize at the Harlem Film Festival in New York a few months ago.
According to Peque Gallaga, a member of the jury, Hollywood actor Ralph Fiennes also had an entry, but failed to garner a nomination in the lead-actor category. Dizon bested the two other nominees that represented films from host country Vietnam and Korea.
In recent weeks we also learned that Jun Lana won the Best Screenplay honors for Bwakaw in North Korea.
Congratulations to all, and thanks for representing the Philippines well.
Definitely world-class
SO many things are happening at Solaire Resort and Casino in Pasay City.
After the launch of Sky Tower, Solaire’s five-star all-suites hotel, we are happy that there is a new, world-class theater, simply called The Theater at Solaire. The topnotch venue with state-of-the-art technology and a massive 1,760-seating capacity was inaugurated recently with a special show that featured the best of Philippine concert performers.
Thomas Arasi, president and CEO of Bloomberry Resorts Corp., the developer of Solaire Resort and Casino, shared that the theater is equipped with the Constellation System exclusively provided by global acoustic specialist Meyer Sounds. “It is the only theater in the Philippines, and only the third in Asia to have this breakthrough technology.”
The Theater at Solaire will be the venue of the much-awaited production of the smash Broadway musical Chicago, a pre-Christmas treat that will surely be a hit among musical-theater aficionados.
James Cundall of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions is happy that the gala premiere of the award-winning musical will mark the grand opening of the theater. “I’m delighted to be bringing in the first production for The Theater at Solaire. And what better show to have than the sexy, slick and sophisticated Chicago.”
We are glad that the production will include 11 Filipino musicians who passed the auditions conducted by musical director Robert Billig a few months ago. We also learned that the show has flown in Broadway veterans Bianca Marroquin and Terra MacLeod for this show.
Chicago will only have 23 shows, from December 3 to 21. n