DEKADA CINEMANILA WINNERS

thanks, gibbs.  :)

++++++++++++++++++++

http://gibbscadiz.multiply.com/journal

YOUNG CINEMA: SHORTS & DOCS
Best Documentary: Marlon (Philippines) by Ralston Jover and James Amparo
Best Short Film: Tumbang Preso (Philippines) by Antoinette Jadaone
Ishmael Bernal Award: Surreal Random MMS Texts Para Ed Ina, Agui, Tan Kaamong Ya Makaiiliw Ed Sika: Gurgurlis Ed Banua [Surreal Random MMS Texts for a Mother, a Sister, and a Wife Who Longs For You: Landscape with Figures] (Philippines), by Christopher Gozum


INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Lino Brocka Award-Grand Prize: The Band's Visit (Israel), by Eran Kolirin
Grand Jury Prize: The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela (Iceland/Philippines/France), by Olaf De Fleur Johannesson
Vic Silayan Award for Best Actor: Kenneth Moraleda for Lucky Miles (Australia)
Vic Silayan Award for Best Actress: Angeli Bayani for Melancholia (Philippines)


SOUTHEAST ASIA (SEA) FILM COMPETITION
Best SEA Short: Frou Frou... Shh, Wag Mong Sabihin Kay Itay (Philippines), by Michael Juat
Best SEA Film: Confessional (Philippines), by Jerrold Tarog and Ruel Dahis Antipuesto
Best Actor: Mario Maurer for The Love of Siam (Thailand)
Best Actress: Anita Linda for Adela (Philippines)


DIGITAL LOKAL
Lino Grand Prize: Imburnal, by Sherad Anthony Sanchez
Lino Grand Jury Prize: Next Attraction, by Raya Martin
Best Actor: Carlo Aquino for Carnivore
Best Actress: Jodi Sta. Maria for Sisa
Best Director: Ato Bautista for Carnivore


UN MILLENNIUM DEV'T GOALS PRIZE
Lay-An, Candles Burning on Still Water, by Milo Tolentino


LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Pete Lacaba, who wrote many of Lino Brocka's best-known works: Jaguar (1979), Bayan Ko (My Country, 1984) and Orapronobis (Fight for Us, 1989).


[The Cinemanila International Film Festival website here. For ticket reservations and updated screening schedules, call 9115555 or visit http://www.blogger.com/www.gatewaycineplex10.com]

Congratulations to all the winners! But especially to Angeli Bayani (Vic Silayan Best Actress awardee for Melancholia), a talented theater actress who's now making her mark in movies as well. Angeli, for some years a mainstay in Tanghalang Pilipino productions, has not been seen onstage lately; her last major role was as Queen Gertrude in Tony Mabesa's Hamlet Redux for Dulaang UP in 2006; last year, she also had a lead part in Ogie Braga's Virgin Labfest entry, Sa Pagdating ng Barbaro. It's clear that her recent focus on indie movies is paying off. Her subtle, unsettling portrayal of a woman torn apart by unrequited love in the 2006 full-length Cinemalaya entry, Ang Huling Araw ng Linggo, was praised by Nestor Torre and other critics. Angelí's gone from strength to strength with parts in other well-received indie releases (including Lav Diaz's latest film-a-thon, Death in the Land of Encantos), and now this--Cinemanila 2008 Best Actress, no less. Brava.

Call me biased, but another notable name in the winners' list: Mario Maurer, SEA Best

Actor for the gay coming-of-age film from Thailand, The Love of Siam (directed by Chukiat Sakweerakul). What a hottie, and quite a sensitive actor, too. Have you seen this film? Aysus, go, look for it in your favorite DVD stalls, or, failing that, in Torrent. Restrained, bittersweet and moving, and the two young leads--Maurer and Thai pop star Witwisit Hirunwongkul--are beautifully cast (trailer here). Saw this film on DVD while on a long-weekend outing with friends not too long ago, which meant it wasn't the usual staid movie-watching experience. At each of the film's high points we hooted and whooped it up, and, by the end credits, we were on our feet in a raucous ovation. Ah, nothing like watching faggy movies--good faggy movies--with fellow fags. But, really, you'd enjoy The Love of Siam, too, even if you are straight (or think you are--grin). You'd thank me for the recommendation.


A note on Cinemanila: On its 10th year, still as chaotic and ad hoc as ever, from the press events to the screenings and even its website. But, as film critic Noel Vera points out, “It's still hands down the best buffets of films, local and otherwise, available in Manila.” So we keep watching. Early rumors had it this edition would have Martin Scorsese as special guest. Not an impossibility, since Quentin Tarantino came by last year and rocked the town. But there was no Mr. Scorsese. Maybe Tikoy Aguiluz and company should have invited Mario Maurer instead. That woulda been da bomb, eh?

2008 DEKADA CINEMANILA AWARDEES

2008 DEKADA CINEMANILA  AWARDEES :

YOUNG CINEMA: SHORTS & DOCS
(EDWIN, CHAIR; ARLEEN CUEVAS; TAN PIN PIN) 

BEST DOCUMENTARY:   MARLON (PHILIPPINES) BY RALSTON JOVER & JAMES AMPARO 

We award the Best Documentary award to Marlon for giving a fresh look on the subject of blindness. We applaud the directors or their sharp eye for details, their patience and their restraint. They let the mundane details of the daily life of a poor blind boy speak to the audience directly but quietly… For trusting these details to resonate with the audience universally and ..for not exploiting a subject that could be easily exploited.

BEST SHORT FILM:  TUMBANG PRESO (PHILIPPINES) BY ANTOINETTE JADAONE 

We applaud the film Tumbang Preso for the clever use of one set of dialogue to contrast and parallel the world of Estong as a child and Estong as a grown-up. The director understands the short film medium and has the discipline to work within the limitations of it to produce a fun and very watchable short film.

ISHMAEL BERNAL AWARD:       CHRISTOPHER GOZUM FOR SURREAL RANDOM MMS TEXTS PARA ED INA, AGUI, TAN KAAMONG YA MAKAIILIW ED SIKA : GURGURLIS ED BANUA (SURREAL RANDOM MMS TEXTS FOR A MOTHER, A SISTER, AND A WIFE WHO LONGS FOR YOU : LANDSCAPE WITH FIGURES) -

We found Christopher Gozum’s flm inspiring. He was able to combine the beauty of Carlos Bulasan’s poetry with minimalist and random images of LCD screens, daily life, creating rhythm light and sound from them to convey the longing and displacement of a Filipino working in the Middle East. Revelatory and humbling, we hope this award will encourage the director to continue his quest of mapping the human heart through film.

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
(DR. BIENVENIDO LUMBERA, CHAIR; TANJA MEDING; PAOLO MINUTO) 

LINO BROCKA AWARD GRAND PRIZE : THE BAND’S VISIT  (ISRAEL) BY ERAN KOLIRIN

The Band’s Visit is about a military band from Egypt that inadvertently land in an out-of-the-way community in Israel on its way to give a performance elsewhere. The discomfiture of the strangers is treated with humor that turns the tale into a warmly human account of a poignant encounter between two cultures as the prim-and-proper band leader gradually opened up to the straightforward woman-shopkeeper hosting some of the band members for the night. 

GRAND JURY PRIZE : THE AMAZING TRUTH ABOUT QUEEN RAQUELA (ICELAND/PHILIPPINES/FRANCE) BY OLAF DE FLEUR JOHANNESSON 

The film successfully combined fact and fiction to glimpse with respect and graciousness. The life story and aspiration of a ‘lady boy’ from Cebu who gets to realize his/her dream of seeing Paris, in the process allowing the viewers an insight into the heart and mind of its main character.

VIC SILAYAN AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR :  KENNETH MORALEDA FOR LUCKY MILES (AUSTRALIA)

VIC SILAYAN AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS : ANGELI BAYANI FOR MELANCHOLIA (PHILIPPINES)

SEA FILM COMPETITION
(WONG TUCK CHEONG, CHAIR; KENNETH MORALEDA; ANNA CAPRI) 

BEST SEA SHORT   : FROU FROU…SHH  WAG MONG SABIHIN KAY ITAY  BY MICHAEL JUAT

Clever appropriation of cinematic, media and cultural clichés done with finely tuned comedy. uses a glossy exterior and high production values to deceptively comment of notions of artistic expression and satirises  everything from a cynical but biting point of view.

BEST SEA FILM  : CONFESSIONAL BY JERROLD TAROG & RUEL DAHIS ANTIPUESTO

Clever excecution of the mockumentary style to comment on the art of fimmaking, personal relationships, politics, and culture. The film was well orchestrated in the use of film making production elements to support a point of view and engage the audience. Showed great ability in amalgamting seemingly disparate elements to a cohesive whole.

BEST ACTOR : MARIO MAURER FOR LOVE OF SIAM  (THAILAND) 

Mature acting choices within  a wide range of situations. Beneath a calm and placid external demeanor his  performance he displayed a rich inner struggle dealing with emotional burdens, with family, friends, his social circle and his romantic and sexual awakening.

BEST ACTRESS : ANITA LINDA FOR ADELA (PHILIPPINES)

A beautifully understaed performance rich in emotional nuances. Showing an great reflective understanding of the relationships between the different characters within the film’s microcosm.

DIGITAL LOKAL
(LAV DIAZ, CHAIR; PIMPAKA TOWIRA) 

LINO GRAND PRIZE : IMBURNAL BY SHERAD ANTHONY SANCHEZ 

Water as the greatest metaphor on the lifeblood of the Filipino – this film earnestly shows the experience is both harrowing and poignant.

LINO GRAND JURY PRIZE : NEXT ATTRACTION BY RAYA MARTIN 

It is a strongly structured film and Martin’s work is showing us a new path for cinematic language

BEST ACTOR : CARLO AQUINO FOR CARNIVORE

BEST ACTRESS : JODI STA. MARIA FOR SISA 

BEST DIRECTOR : ATO BAUTISTA FOR CARNIVORE

UN MDGs PRIZE :  LAY-AN, CANDLES BURNING ON STILL WATER BY ROMMEL TOLENTINO

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD : PETE LACABA

DEKADA CINEMANILA | 10th CINEMANILA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL | DEKADA CINEMANILA AWARDEES

http://www.cinemanila.org.ph/
2008 DEKADA CINEMANILA AWARDEES :

YOUNG CINEMA: SHORTS & DOCS
(EDWIN, CHAIR; ARLEEN CUEVAS; TAN PIN PIN)

BEST DOCUMENTARY: MARLON (PHILIPPINES) BY RALSTON JOVER & JAMES AMPARO

We award the Best Documentary award to Marlon for giving a fresh look on the subject of blindness. We applaud the directors or their sharp eye for details, their patience and their restraint. They let the mundane details of the daily life of a poor blind boy speak to the audience directly but quietly… For trusting these details to resonate with the audience universally and ..for not exploiting a subject that could be easily exploited.

BEST SHORT FILM: TUMBANG PRESO (PHILIPPINES) BY ANTOINETTE JADAONE

We applaud the film Tumbang Preso for the clever use of one set of dialogue to contrast and parallel the world of Estong as a child and Estong as a grown-up. The director understands the short film medium and has the discipline to work within the limitations of it to produce a fun and very watchable short film.

ISHMAEL BERNAL AWARD: CHRISTOPHER GOZUM FOR SURREAL RANDOM MMS TEXTS PARA ED INA, AGUI, TAN KAAMONG YA MAKAIILIW ED SIKA : GURGURLIS ED BANUA (SURREAL RANDOM MMS TEXTS FOR A MOTHER, A SISTER, AND A WIFE WHO LONGS FOR YOU : LANDSCAPE WITH FIGURES) -

We found Christopher Gozum’s flm inspiring. He was able to combine the beauty of Carlos Bulasan’s poetry with minimalist and random images of LCD screens, daily life, creating rhythm light and sound from them to convey the longing and displacement of a Filipino working in the Middle East. Revelatory and humbling, we hope this award will encourage the director to continue his quest of mapping the human heart through film.

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
(DR. BIENVENIDO LUMBERA, CHAIR; TANJA MEDING; PAOLO MINUTO)

LINO BROCKA AWARD GRAND PRIZE : THE BAND’S VISIT (ISRAEL) BY ERAN KOLIRIN

The Band’s Visit is about a military band from Egypt that inadvertently land in an out-of-the-way community in Israel on its way to give a performance elsewhere. The discomfiture of the strangers is treated with humor that turns the tale into a warmly human account of a poignant encounter between two cultures as the prim-and-proper band leader gradually opened up to the straightforward woman-shopkeeper hosting some of the band members for the night.

GRAND JURY PRIZE : THE AMAZING TRUTH ABOUT QUEEN RAQUELA (ICELAND/PHILIPPINES/FRANCE) BY OLAF DE FLEUR JOHANNESSON

The film successfully combined fact and fiction to glimpse with respect and graciousness. The life story and aspiration of a ‘lady boy’ from Cebu who gets to realize his/her dream of seeing Paris, in the process allowing the viewers an insight into the heart and mind of its main character.

VIC SILAYAN AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR : KENNETH MORALEDA FOR LUCKY MILES (AUSTRALIA)

VIC SILAYAN AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS : ANGELI BAYANI FOR MELANCHOLIA (PHILIPPINES)

SEA FILM COMPETITION
(WONG TUCK CHEONG, CHAIR; KENNETH MORALEDA; ANNA CAPRI)

BEST SEA SHORT : FROU FROU…SHH WAG MONG SABIHIN KAY ITAY BY MICHAEL JUAT

Clever appropriation of cinematic, media and cultural clichés done with finely tuned comedy. uses a glossy exterior and high production values to deceptively comment of notions of artistic expression and satirises everything from a cynical but biting point of view.

BEST SEA FILM : CONFESSIONAL BY JERROLD TAROG & RUEL DAHIS ANTIPUESTO

Clever excecution of the mockumentary style to comment on the art of fimmaking, personal relationships, politics, and culture. The film was well orchestrated in the use of film making production elements to support a point of view and engage the audience. Showed great ability in amalgamting seemingly disparate elements to a cohesive whole.

BEST ACTOR : MARIO MAURER FOR LOVE OF SIAM (THAILAND)

Mature acting choices within a wide range of situations. Beneath a calm and placid external demeanor his performance he displayed a rich inner struggle dealing with emotional burdens, with family, friends, his social circle and his romantic and sexual awakening.

BEST ACTRESS : ANITA LINDA FOR ADELA (PHILIPPINES)

A beautifully understaed performance rich in emotional nuances. Showing an great reflective understanding of the relationships between the different characters within the film’s microcosm.

DIGITAL LOKAL
(LAV DIAZ, CHAIR; PIMPAKA TOWIRA)

LINO GRAND PRIZE : IMBURNAL BY SHERAD ANTHONY SANCHEZ

Water as the greatest metaphor on the lifeblood of the Filipino – this film earnestly shows the experience is both harrowing and poignant.

LINO GRAND JURY PRIZE : NEXT ATTRACTION BY RAYA MARTIN

It is a strongly structured film and Martin’s work is showing us a new path for cinematic language

BEST ACTOR : CARLO AQUINO FOR CARNIVORE

BEST ACTRESS : JODI STA. MARIA FOR SISA

BEST DIRECTOR : ATO BAUTISTA FOR CARNIVORE

UN MDGs PRIZE : LAY-AN, CANDLES BURNING ON STILL WATER BY ROMMEL TOLENTINO

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD : PETE LACABA

8-HOUR RP FILM IS BEST FEATURE IN VENICE FESTIVAL

ORIZZONTI SIDEBAR
8-hour RP film is best feature in Venice Festival

By Ruben V. Nepales
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:51:00 09/08/2008

TORONTO—“Melancholia” by the Philippines’ Lav Diaz has won the Orizzonti prize for Best

Feature Film in the Venice Film Festival.

The 65th Venice film fest, which ran from Aug. 27 to Sept. 6, has an Orizzonti or New

Horizons section that has for the past four years focused on the latest trends in cinema

suspended between fiction and documentary.

“Melancholia,” which had the honor of closing the Orizzonti sidebar of the Venice film

fest, runs almost eight hours. The Orizzonti decided to screen the film with two breaks.

Noted as the Filipino auteur of epic-length films, Diaz has consistently done films that

are over five hours in running time.

The Philippines was also represented in the Orizzonti by Francis Xavier E. Pasion’s “Jay,”

which officially opened the Orizzonti on Aug. 29.

In the age of MTV, Diaz’s marathon films are considered an oddity. He is one of the very

few directors in the world who make films that run as long as, or longer than, most

people’s work days.

Diaz’s “Ebolusyon ng Isang Pamilyang Pilipino,” shot in the United States, clocks in at a

staggering 10 hours plus.

“Death in the Land of Encantos,” which also closed Orizzonti last year, is nine hours

long. Perhaps not meaning to allude to the length of his entry, Diaz exclaimed, “Long live

Philippine cinema!” in his acceptance speech at the awards night last year when “Encantos”

won a Special Mention prize.

Diaz previously told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the Venice film festival would

screen his entry with two breaks. “The programmers requested for two breaks,” he said.

“OK lang. Ayoko sana pero mapilit sila (I was unwilling at first but they were very

persuasive). My films are really meant to be seen in one sitting para may tamang (so

there’s just the right amount of) immersion. There were no breaks during the screening of

‘Encantos’ last year. People who really follow my work do not like breaks. But I do

understand the concerns of the programmers. They want the audience to be comfortable. Who

can argue with comfort?”

Sadness, madness

“Melancholia,” according to Diaz, asks the following questions: “Why is there so much

sadness and too much madness in this world? Is happiness just a concept? Is living just a

process to measure man’s pain?”

Diaz recalled what was memorable about the marathon screening of “Encantos” last year:

“Besides the sight of people bringing food and other ‘tools’ to prepare for the experience

or battle, one really interesting incident was when a young man, in his early 20s, came to

me after the showing of ‘Encantos.’ Almost in tears, he told me that he is a Filipino who

has never been to the islands, that he became really a Filipino after watching the film,

and that he wanted to go ‘home.’”

The prolific filmmaker also said: “The advantage of having my films closing the Orizzonti

is that I have more room or time to edit the film. I have this nasty habit of shooting and

shooting until I realize that the deadline is right [there] in front of my door. The

disadvantage, of course, is that when it’s closing time, that means more than half of the

festival attendees have left by then.”

Exposure

The Cotabato native wanted to bring seven people from the cast and crew to the Venice film

fest held on the island of Lido but was allowed to bring only three from his cast and crew

after his meeting with the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

He shared the triumph in Venice with Angeli Bayani (actress), Perry Dizon (actor) and

Kristine Kintana (production supervisor).

Diaz had hoped to bring Roeder (actor), Dante Perez (actor/production designer), Jay

Ramirez (technical supervisor) and Emman dela Cruz (actor/documentarian).

“I tried to bring all these people for the exposure and the workshop,” he explained.

“It’s not really healthy that only the director and producer go to the festivals. We need

to expose our people para lumawak ang kamalayan, para mas may tamang cultural interaction

man lang (to widen their consciousness, to experience cultural interaction), or simply, to

[enhance] their film education. Festivals are great venues for this.”

Opening up to Pinoy films

Diaz added: “Having two Filipino films at this year’s Venice film fest is a great sign,”

referring to the Venice event’s inclusion of “Melancholia” and “Jay” in its “Orizzonti”

sidebar.

“Nagbubukas na talaga sila (They are opening up to Filipino films).”
The director, whose full name is Lavrente Indico Diaz, described how digital technology

has energized Philippine cinema.

“The technology liberated cinema. The deluge of new work, especially from very young and

talented filmmakers like Francis Pasion, is a direct result of this. Liberation is the

vision of all revolutions. Finally, art is not feudal, as shown by the digital

revolution,” he said.

RP FILM WINS IN VENICE FEST

RP film wins in Venice fest
By Ricky Lo
Monday, September 8, 2008

Lav Diaz’s Melancholia won the Best Film Award in the Orizzonti Section of the 65th Venice

International Film Festival which ended Saturday.

This piece of good news was relayed to The STAR by Funfare’s Toronto-based “international

correspondent” Ferdinand Lapuz who is a member of the Philippine delegation to the

filmfest in his capacity as producer of Jay, the other Filipino film which competed in the

same section.

According to a report from Venice, the decision of the Orizzonti Jury (composed of

Chantal, president; Nicole Brenez, Barbara Cupisti, Jose Luis Guerin, and Veiko Ounpuu)

was unanimous.

The three runners-up are:
• Below Sea Level by Gianfranco Rosi (Italy/USA), Doc Prize;

• Un Lac by Philippe Grandrieux (France), Special Mention; and

• Wo Men (We) by Huang Wenhai (China/Switzerland), also Special Mention.

No Filipino film competed for the Golden Lion, the top prize in the Main Section which was

won by The Wrestler (USA), directed by Darren Aronofsky; and Russia’s Paper Soldier,

directed by Aleksey German Jr., placing second (Silver Lion).

Chosen as closing film of the filmfest, Melancholia, which runs for almost eight hours and

shot in various places in the Philippines, tries to explore the question of why there’s

“so much sadness and so much madness” in this world, in the end finding no answer at all.

It stars Angeli Bayani, Perry Dizon, Roeder Camanag, Raul Arellano, Dante Perez, Malaya

and Soliman Cruz.

It’s the second time for Diaz to have won an award at the VIFF. Last year, he won a

Special Mention award for his nine-hour film Kagadanan Sa Banwaan Ning Mga Engkanto (Death

in the Land of Enkantos) which depicts the death and desolation of the Bicol region after

a killer typhoon.

“The Venice International Film Festival shouldn’t be confused with the Venice Film

Festival (take note: No ‘international’), also in Italy, and another Venice Film Festival

in the US,” said lawyer-producer Joji Alonso who is well-versed about international film

festivals because some of her films, including Kubrador (directed by Jeffrey Jeturian),

have won awards abroad.

The Venice International Film Festival was initially known as D Mostra Internazionale d’

Arte Cinematografica di Venezia.

Meanwhile, the Baron Geisler-starrer Jay, directed by Francis Xavier Pasion, was initially

intended for the Luigi de Laurentiis Award for Debut Film but it qualified for the

Orizzonti, which is a bigger section.

Born in 1958 in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao, an island in Mindanao, Diaz is recognized as

“the ideological father of the New Philippine Film Movement,” noted for making films that

run for hours, also including Batang West Side (2002), Ebolusyon ng Isang Pamilyang

Pilipino (2005) and Heremias subtitled Ikalawang Alkat: Ang Alamat ng Prinsesang Bayawak

(2006).

VENEZIA!