Since 2014, Filipino stars have been winning the Best Actress trophy (except in 2017 where Brazil’s Leticia Braga bagged the award) in the prestigious International Film Festival in Manhattan (IFFM), New York City. Liza Diño won for “In Nomine Matris” (In the Name of the Mother) in 2014; Aiko Melendez for “Asintado” in 2015; Nathalie Hart for “Siphayo” in 2016; Andi Eigenmann, for the “The Maid in London” in 2018; Gloria Romero for “Rainbow Sunset” in 2019; and Lovi Poe won for “Latay (Battered Husband)” in 2020.
Previous IFFM editions showcased a quality selection of world-class videos and films in a theater in Manhattan, but the annual competition shifted into online platform this year due to worldwide uncertainty due to the Covid-19 virus and the consequent lockdowns and travel restrictions around the world. Still, the country’s winning streak continued at the 11th edition of the IFFM spring edition in New York City. Fifteen entries from the Philippines made the cut in the 9-country (Canada, France, India, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Tibet, United Kingdom and USA) competition.
Founded in 2010, the IFFM is committed to showcasing entertaining and diverse films in all genres and scope to equal the diversity of New York. It is also committed to exploring all opportunities to promote the artist, his works, his vision and his cause (if he has any) during the showing of the films and the events during the festival.
During the recent film festival, the Philippines won even bigger, with veteran actress Snooky Serna bagging the Jury Award Best Performance of the Film Festival Grand Prize (Male or Female, Short or Feature) and Best Actress Award for her role in multi-awarded Joel Lamangan’s directed film “In the Name of the Mother.” The 51 year old former child star holds the distinction of being the first actor to win two major awards in the film festival. Dedicated to the sacrifices of all mothers for their families, this 2020, 109-minute film was also part of the 2020 Asian Film Festival Barcelona’s NETPAC Section in Spain.
The movie also bagged the Jury Award Beast Narrative Feature Global, the Film Festival Director Award for Best Screenplay for Enrique “Eric” Ramos and Honorable Mention (Best Actress) for Rita Daniela. Joel was also nominated for Best Director.
The story of this film, executive produced by Harlene Bautista of Heaven’s Best Entertainment, line produced by Dennis C. Evangelista and produced by Ferdinand “Ferdy” Lapuz, revolves around Carmen (Snooky), an abused and abandoned 54-year-old grade school math teacher who faces the wreckage of her husband Marcial’s (played by stage actor Teroy Guzman last seen in “Citizen Jake”) suicide two years after he left her for his mistress Rowena (played by Diana Zubiri). Carmen boldly assumes the debts that drove him to kill himself and revives the jewelry store she used to manage for him, thereby succeeding as an empowered woman.
In an act of compassion, Carmen also gives back her husband’s devastated mistress her old job as a saleslady at the store. This act stuns her three children – Marc (played by Pancho Magno), the feisty Precious (the only daughter played by Kapuso actress, singer and television host Rita Daniela) always in conflict with Carmen and Arvin (played by Migz Cuaderno, who outs himself to his mama as gay). As her children struggle with their own lives, Carmen’s desperate efforts to keep her family intact eventually come home to roost—with mixed results.
Also in the cast are Empress Schuck (as Ria, Pancho’s wife), Jaime “Jim” Pebanco (Snooky’s adopted brother), Jennifer Sevilla (Snooky’s co-teacher and best friend), Gardo Versoza (the new man in Snooky’s love life), Vince Rillon (Migz’ best friend and crush), Tabs Sumulong (Pancho’s mother-in-law), Rico Barrera (Rita’s rocker boyfriend), Perla Bautista and Emilio Garcia.
In an interview with Lhar Santiago in “24 Oras,” she said, in a mix of English and Filipino, “I can’t help but feel emotional about the recognition.” She also stated that“I really don’t want to cry, but I shed a tear. I really did not expect it at all that I’ll win, and I won two awards. “It was a dream come true for me.”
Also in the same film fest, the “Sarangani: Nature, Adventure, Culture,” a short 2-minute promotional tourism music video featuring Sarangani province’s top tourist attractions, was conferred the Gold Excellence Award, a special recognition. Produced by the Sarangani provincial government, the video was submitted under the corporate category.
Sarangani Provincial Tourism Council chairperson Michelle Lopez-Solon, the wife of Sarangani Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon, directed the video, saying that “it showcases Sarangani’s natural resources and destinations, landscapes, white-sand beaches, inland bodies of water, and ethnic diversity, showcasing the preserved and honored indigenous cultures. It boasts of the people’s efforts to keep Sarangani environmentally and socially sustainable.”
She added that the video advertisement features snippets of experiences visitors can enjoy, such as its vibrant beach parties, municipal festivals, water sports, white water tubing (Maitum), scuba diving at Sarangani Bay, paragliding in Maasim, sightseeing, and cultural immersions, to name a few.
Solon concluded that the province joined the film fest to show the world that somewhere down in southern Philippines is a consummate place worth visiting and exploring very soon.
Released in 2019, the tourism video which used raw footages from local videographers, was edited by Champ Biala and produced by Rain Ramas.