The Philippines cements its spot on the world cinema map.
Filipino filmmakers have taken home the Philippines’ first historic wins at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, widely regarded as the largest American independent film festival.
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Martika Ramirez Escobar’s Ang Pagbabalik ng Kwago (Leonor Will Never Die) was presented the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award: Innovative Spirit, while Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan’s The Headhunter’s Daughter was awarded the Short Film Grand Jury Prize.
The 38th edition of the festival was held online between January 20 to 30. Escobar’s Leonor Will Never Die was the Philippines’ entry to the World Cinema Dramatic Competition and Eblahan’s The Headhunter’s Daughter for the Short Film Program Competition.
Follow your stone heart
Escobar is an alumnus of the UP Film Institute whose thesis film, Pusong Bato (Stone Heart), won Best Short Film at the 11th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition. Leonor Will Never Die marks her feature film debut.
“Switching in-between genres, this film-within-a-film follows an ailing screenwriter who enters her unfinished screenplay of a gangster film to experience and edit her own creation. Constantly shifting in tone, the film is a playful display of the love of cinema. Its innovative and risk-taking spirit is especially commendable,” juror La Frances Hui said of the film.
In her acceptance speech, Escobar thanked her parents for allowing her to do her craft and shared her award with all young female filmmakers.
“I am like you, I am with you, and I hope this shines a bit of light in the difficult paths we have. I hope we all get to make the films that we want in this life, because we can,” she said.
The headhunter’s daughter’s father
Meanwhile, Eblahan is an independent film writer-director of Ifugao and Visayan descent who studied at DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts. His movie Hilum won the International Student Jury Prize and the Special Mention of the International Jury at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival.
Hilum – Official Trailer (2021) / Festival de Clermont-Ferrand from Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan on Vimeo.
“We were entranced by this poetic and dream-like film, which follows its character’s intimate journey with gorgeous cinematography and direction and acting, capturing a unique sense of place,” juror Blackhorse Lowe said of The Headhunter’s Daughter.
In response, Eblahan extended gratitude to his team and Sundance.
“This is a great honor. Honestly, I’ve been very thankful for this festival and what it has done for this film. Thank you for screening it and awarding us the Grand Jury Prize, this is a big honor,” he said.
Here comes the Sundance
At least three Senate resolutions have been filed to congratulate and commend Eblahan and Escobar.
Prior to their participation and achievement, the Philippines’ last participation in Sundance’s World Cinema Dramatic Competition was over 15 years ago with Auraeus Solito’s (Kanakan Balintagos) Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros) in 2006.
More recently, Sonny Calvento’s Excuse Me, Miss, Miss, Miss only last year became the first Filipino short film to enter the festival.
Filipino American filmmaker Ramona Diaz has also won the Sundance Excellence in Cinematography Award in 2004 for her documentary Imelda, according to the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
Banner Photo by Martika Ramirez Escobar and Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan via FDCP.
