Jul 212017
 

Internationally-renowned film directors Brillante Mendoza and Lav Diaz have been welcomed to the Oscars’ Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) Class of 2017.

Lav DIaz and Brilliante Mendoza

Lav Diaz and Brilliante Mendoza [via Inquirer]

The two Filipino independent filmmakers join the 774 new members of the Academy, in the branch of 64 new member directors.

The Academy credits Lav Diaz for his 8-hour historical fantasy drama film “A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery” which won for Diaz the Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize at the 66th Berlinale, and his 4-hour drama mystery film “Norte, the End of History” which was exhibited in June at the New York Museum of Modern Art.

Brillante Mendoza was cited by the Academy for his drama film “Thy Womb” which stars award-winning Filipino actress Nora Aunor, and crime drama film “Kinatay” for which he won Best Director at 62nd Cannes- the first Filipino to receive the award.

Since 1953, the Philippines has been submitting an entry to the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film but has yet to receive a nomination. Both Mendoza and Diaz have one film submitted as an entry, writes Conan Atlantis in an article posted on Mendoza’s website.

Diaz’s Norte was submitted to the 87 th Academy Awards in 2014. Mendoza’s “Ma’Rosa,” which won Best Actress for Jaclyn Jose at the Cannes and Best Director for Mendoza at the 54 th Gijon, was submitted to the 89 th Oscars in 2016.

Diaz and Mendoza join the Academy Class of 2017 which raises the membership to about 8,500 film industry personalities from 57 countries, across 17 branches. The Academy began in1927 with 293 filmmakers in 5 branches. Membership is by invitation, after sponsorship by two Academy members.

The Filipino directors’ membership to the Academy Class of 2017 was declared on the Oscars’ site with the lines, “The best stories never end. Today they become a part of ours.”

 

The post Brilliante Mendoza, Lav Diaz join Oscars’ Academy appeared first on Good News Pilipinas.

Jul 142017
 
Pedicab is Best Film in Shanghai Film Festival

Pauwi Na, titled Pedicab in its international release, received the top 20th Golden Goblet Award as Best Film at the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF). Pedicab [via SIFF] Pauwi Na (Pedicab) director Paolo Villaluna, with actors Cherry Pie Picache and Bembol Roco received the SIFF Best Feature Film award at the Golden Goblet Awarding Ceremonies in China. The Philippines’ entry was announced the winner – “For the humanism and universality of the story, for the simplicity of the style and realization – for the non-conformism with which it represented our desire to believe that there is a sense in this Universe, the award for the Best Film goes to PEDICAB, from the Philippines.” Pauwi Na (Pedicab) received the plum award from among three SIFF competitions and 24 nominations judged by a panel led by Cannes’ winning director, Cristian Mungui. When deliberating on the Golden Goblet Best Film awardee, the SIFF Jury reportedly paid more attention to the work itself compared with film background and director’s experience. Jury President Mungui revealed in an interview published by SIFF: “Selecting Best Film is always the hardest, for other categories have prominent and separate considering criteria. Yet every jury member had his or her own opinion on Best Film, so there was a lot of argument during the process. Fortunately, we finally reached consensus and basically every member’s requirement has been satisfied.” “Compared with the film production powers like Iran, Japan and Italy, Philippine production seems to be less familiar to the Chinese audience. Read More …

May 102017
 
6 Filipinos best of the best in ASEAN film fest awards

Six Filipinos received major awards from the 3rd ASEAN International Film Festival & Awards 2017 (AIFFA 2017) held May in Kuching, Malaysia. [via Facebook] Six awards were given to the Philippine entries out of 18 nominations at the AIFFA 2017. Popular comedienne Ai Ai DeLas Alas bagged the Best Actress award for her role as an ageing woman trying to get away from a life of prostitution in the movie, Area. Louie Ignacio received the Best Director trophy for the same film, Area. Ana Capri won the Best Supporting Actress award for the film, “Laut.” Ricky Davao received the Best Supporting Actor for “Dayang Asu.” Lawrence Fajardo won the Best Editing award for “Imbisibol.” Lav Diaz was honored with a special citation for “Ang Babaeng Humayo” which has been receiving several international acclaim. The AIFFA which is on its third run since it was first held in 2013, offers a platform to promote ASEAN films to the international market, facilitate collaborations among ASEAN film industry members, and provide business opportunities for film exhibitors and distributors. In 2015 the Philippines received 5 trophies, with Cherie Gil bagging the Best Actress trophy, and a Lifetime Achievement award for Nora Aunor. The Philippine trophies at the ASEAN International Film Festival & Awards “furthers the art and craft of ASEAN filmmaking by inspiring and championing the work of screenwriters, filmmakers and all artistes who use the language of film to tell a story,” according to AIFFA.   The post 6 Filipinos best of the Read More …

May 062017
 
Philippine cinema centerstage in New York’s MoMA

Contemporary Philippine cinema is getting the spotlight at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) of New York in June. Jaclyn Jose, in a scene from Brillante Mendoza’s Serbis [via Museum of Modern Art] MoMA is scheduled to present its new exhibit “A New Golden Age: Contemporary Philippine Cinema” showcasing 18 Filipino films spanning the years 2000 to present, and calls it the Third Golden Age of Philippine cinema after the first golden age in the 1950s, and the second golden age from the 1970s to early 80s. “The Philippines’ current wave of sustained creativity is unusual in its diversity of genre and style, audacious formal experimentation, and multiplicity of personal, social, and political perspectives. Defying simple description, this dizzying array of distinct cinematic statements makes it an exceptionally unique, vibrant movement,” goes the exhibit notes. The 13 Filipino directors whose works will be spotlighted include “Lav Diaz’s minimalist tales rendered at epic lengths,” Brillante Mendoza’s “gritty realist portrayals of the margins of society,” Raya Martin’s “experimentation with storytelling and form,” Ditsi Carolino’s “stark documentaries following the disenfranchised,” and Erik Matti’s “riveting thrillers.” The films to be exhibited from June 1-25 are: Motherland. 2017. Directed by Ramona S. Diaz Expressway. 2016. Directed by Ato Bautista Norte, the End of History. 2013. Directed by Lav Diaz Ma’ Rosa. 2016. Directed by Brillante Mendoza The Woman in the Septic Tank. 2011. Directed by Marlon Rivera Gemini. 2014. Directed by Ato Bautista Aparisyon (Apparition). 2012. Directed by Isabel Sandoval On the Job. 2013. Directed Read More …

Apr 282017
 
Lav Diaz wins Best Director in Dublin

Lav Diaz has bagged another Best Director award for his film, “Ang Babaeng Humayo (The Woman Who Left),” this time from the Dublin Film Critics Circle (DFCC) Awards held at the Audi Dublin International Film Festival, in Ireland. Diaz previously won the Golden Lion prize at the 73 rd Venice Film Festival for the same film. The Dublin Film Critics Circle (DFCC) Awards jury composed of eight Irish movie critics from different publications in Ireland voted Diaz as the best director. The Filipino filmmaker received full marks for his 228 minute long drama film, reported ABSCBN News. In an interview Diaz said of his award, “It’s cool. Ibinabalita lang natin sa bayan, pangbawas kahit katiting man lang sa salimuot na dinaranas natin. (We are reporting it to the country, to diminish, no matter how slight, the complex crisis we’re now experiencing.)” “Ang Babaeng Humayo” tells the revenge tale of a school teacher who spent 30 years of her life inside the correctional facility for a crime she did not commit. The lead character is portrayed by ABS-CBN Chief Content Officer Charo Santos in a film produced by Cinema One Originals and Sine Olivia Pilipinas. DFCC President Tara Brady described the process of choosing winners was a “grueling pleasure” considering almost a hundred Irish and world premieres were held at the Dublin fest this year.   The post Lav Diaz wins Best Director in Dublin appeared first on Good News Pilipinas. Related posts: Lav Diaz captures Venice Int’l Film Fest Best Read More …

Mar 202017
 
PH wins Best Director, Best Film in Malaysia Int’l Filmfest

The Philippines won two awards at the 2017 Malaysia Golden Global Awards (MGGA), one for renowned Filipino filmmaker Brillante Mendoza who bagged another the Best Director award for his film “Ma’ Rosa,” and a Best Film award for Philippines-Malaysia collaboration film “Singing in Graveyards” which stars Filipino rock legend Joey “Pepe” Smith. Brillante Mendoza Mendoza received his second international best director award for his 2016 film The independent filmmaker earlier received the same recognition during the Gijon International Film Festival in Spain. “Ma’ Rosa” tells the story of a well-liked sari-sari store owner Rosa (Jaclyn Jose) who sells drugs as a side business to meet her family’s daily needs while raising bail for her jailed husband Nestor (Julio Diaz). The same film won for actress Jose the first Best Actress win for the Philippines at the Cannes Film Festival in France. “Singing in Graveyards” was hailed as Best Film at the MGGA. The film stars Filipino rock legend Joey “Pepe” Smith who plays a rock star impersonator who’s given a chance to open for the rock legend’s concert.   The post PH wins Best Director, Best Film in Malaysia Int’l Filmfest appeared first on Good News Pilipinas. Related posts: Ma’ Rosa’s Brillante Mendoza wins best director in Gijon Jun Lana wins Best Director in India film festival Jaclyn Jose wins Cannes’ Best Actress award for role in Ma Rosa Teri Malvar 1st Filipino Best Actress in Moscow FilmFest