Francis Xavier Pasion with his trophy [via Facebook]
Bwaya (Crocodile), an indie film based on actual events involving deadly Philippine crocodiles won for the Philippines its first gold at the Vesoul International Film Fest of Asian Cinema in France.
Bwaya director Francis Xavier Pasion received the Golden Rickshaw award or Cyclo D’ Or at 21st Festival International Des Cinémas D’ Asie (FICA) in February.
The festival’s Golden Cyclo top jury prize was awarded by four international jurors led by its chairman director Wang Chao of China, Mohammad Rasoulof from Iran, Prasana Vithanage of Sri Lanka, and Laurice Guillen of the Philippines.
The film tells the story of Divina, a mother who searches for her child after receiving news that her child Rowena has been attacked by crocodiles in the Agusan del Sur marshlands of Mindanao in Southern Philippines.
The film stars Angeli Bayani who plays Divina to Jolina Salvado’s Rowena, together with Karl Medina and RS Francisco.
Ninety films competed at the FICA Vesoul festival which was created in 1995 and is one of the most popular events in Europe attended by thousands, recording an audience of 30,000 in 2014.
Pasion, an Ateneo de Manila University graduate is currently an ABS-CBN network television director.
Bwaya received its first international recognition winning as Best Film at the Tokyo Filmex in 2014.
The film which was first recognized at the Cinemelaya 2014 Philippine Independent Cinema Festival, is helping raise local and international cultural and social awareness.
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