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 202017
 
Negrense furniture maker bags Asian award in Thailand

Christina Borromeo-Gaston, a furniture designer based in Negros, has been selected as the Philippine awardee at the ASEAN Selections 2017 in Thailand. Foliage by Christina Gaston [via Facebook] Gaston, Creative Director of Hacienda Crafts, was recognized for her entry from her Hacienda Crafts’ Foliage Series of Coconut Twig Leaves, which was adjudged winner by a panel of judges from Thailand, Japan, and Korea. “Foliage” describes the inspiration and concept of the series as: “We live surrounded by life. We must pay attention to it, take care of it.” The designer was one of the 9 awardees recognized by Amparwon Pichalai, CEO of Support Arts and Crafts International Center of Thailand (SACICT). “It is an honor to be alongside other ASEAN awardees who are amazing craftsmen, artisans, designers and artists,” Gaston said in a PNA release. Gaston, president of the Association of Negros Producers (ANP), was nominated by the Design Center of the Philippines. “I am encouraging Filipinos to be proud of our heritage and express it because it is our own,” she said, adding that “to our Negrense producers, continue to develop excellent products for the world. Gaston has urged fellow Filipino producers to take care of, preserve, and propagate the country’s natural resources to be able to use them for generations to come.   The post Negrense furniture maker bags Asian award in Thailand appeared first on Good News Pilipinas. Related posts: Nora, Brillante Mendoza film bags Cannes special award Jake Cuenca bags best actor award in World Cinema 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