A short film entry of University of Saint Louis-Senior High School students from Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, ruled the 15-18 years old category and bagged the Audience Choice award of the third annual Manila Student Film Festival last February 1 at International School Manila, Bonifacio Global City.
“Disconnected,” directed by Ven Gabriel Potang and written by Kathleen Orpilla, won two MSFF trophies and a Fujifilm X-A20 Camera for topping the Senior/High School age group and getting the highest number of votes from the audience at the event and from viewers on social media after the screening.
The four-minute film tells the story of students leaving their frustrations over a certain school project after a sudden blackout. As they play a new game to pass away time, little do they know that they are already doing something different in school—a lot more meaningful activity as friends and classmates.
Lente Likha Productions, a passion project which aims to develop young storytellers and aspiring filmmakers at USL-SHS to be creative and critical thinkers as well as responsible users and competent producers of media and information through digital storytelling, is behind the winning entry.
Director of photography Kate Pagulayan, translator and subtitlist Carl Lucas Empedrad, musical scorer Scott Lagmay, and actors Edilbert Philip Garcia, Trisha Binondo, Pearl Calucag, Karlyne Duran, Kristle Catindoy, Mitzi Managuelod, Joseph Graham Long, Aileen Guiyab, Jenielyn Langcay, Keith Escobar and Xygfrid Abella helped Potang and Orpilla in realizing their vision.
USL-SHS computer teacher McKevin P. Romualdo, who served as Lente Likha’s team adviser and film consultant, recalled that the group decided to shoot the film last December 23 and “their passion, sacrifices and willingness made it possible.”
“Lente Likha always hopes to bring inspiring narratives for the youth who always believe,” Romualdo added.
The official media team of USL-SHS is also responsible for producing “EDNIS,” a short film about four kids troubled by their past, which won the audience prize last year.
On the other hand, Lilipad na si Birdie by Aki Red of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde topped the 19-21 years category (Further/Higher Education). In the film, Birdie is an aspiring illustrator obsessed with perfection in his work. His insecurity leads him to loneliness. However, when a pair of magical glasses are sent from the heavens above, his life changes for both the better and the worse.
Lilipad na si Birdie previously won the Bronze Award, Best Supporting Actress for Deena De Guzman, and Best Playbill at Adamson University’s film competition “REALIFILM 2019: All Sacrifices for Passion” last month. It was also nominated for Best Production Design, Best Screenplay, Best Director, Special Jury Award, Best Supporting Actor for AJ Briones, and Best Actor in a Leading Role for Sky Cobres.
Meanwhile, Sophia Relf’s stop-motion entry The Cookie Thief about a snowman trying to steal cookies at Christmas won in the 8-11 age group (Junior/Elementary). In addition, Kung Fu Adolescent by Luke Ryan, Patrick Hopkins, Clement Lepage, Eisuke Abeta, and Mohammad Affan Alam prevailed in the 12- 14 category (Middle/High school). They are all students from IS Manila.
In Kung Fu Adolescent, a young boy wishes to borrow a book to read, but his hopes are quickly abolished by a thief. Discouraged, the boy seeks out to get revenge, until a wise master teaches him a secret martial art. He uses his skills to get revenge on the thief.
For the first time in three years, a Best Animated Film prize was also awarded to MEOWBOT3000 vs. FISHZILLA by Michael Angelo “Mio” Dagsaan of UP Diliman. In the film, peace is threatened in a town called Meow-Meow City when a mysterious fish monster emerges from the sea and wreaks havoc. Meowbot3000, a quick and cheap mecha by the government, is tasked to defend the city against it.
Twenty-seven films from IS Manila, USL-SHS, DLS-CSB, UP Diliman, Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Sta. Mesa, Brent School Baguio, iAcademy, Far Eastern University, and FEU SHS were shortlisted as finalists this year.
IS Manila HS teacher and film festival director Nadia Hartley revealed that the organizers were very impressed with the student works, and “the quality of the films has never been so high and it took the selection panel much longer than usual to decide on this year’s shortlist.”
Advertising directors Luis Tabuena and Ricky Villabona, animator Dani Montano, and veteran theater and film actress and women’s rights activist Monique Wilson judged the entries in the competition.
Filmmakers and members of the audience got gift certificates from Urban Ashram Yoga, Active Fun, Seda Hotel, Marquis, Mount Malarayat Resort, Porto Laiya Resort and Wonder Photo Shop-Fujifilm.
The MSFF celebrates the creativity of young filmmakers in the Philippines by providing an audience for upcoming talent and inspiring future filmmakers to create films now. It has become an institutionalized event of IS Manila since its launch in 2017.
Submission of film entries for the 2021 edition will open on September and end on December 2020.
1 comment
Great Article!
Thank you and hope to see you again next year!