MANILA, Philippines—Adolf Alix Jr.'s "Chassis," which tells of a mother's struggle while living on the streets of Manila, is the first Filipino film to compete in the Mar del Plata International Film Festival, which opened Sunday and will run until November 22 in Argentina.
The Mar del Plata IFF, in its 25th year, is the only A-list competitive feature festival recognized by the Paris-based International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) in Latin America and the oldest in this category in the Americas.
UP screening
"Chassis," produced by Happy Gilmore Productions, was screened on November 12 at the Cine Adarna of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, to raise funds for Pier 16 residents in Port Area, Manila, where the movie was shot.
Alix said the ticket sales will also partly finance the trip of the Philippine delegation, which left Saturday, to the Mar del Plata event, where the movie will be screened on Nov. 21.
The director described "Chassis," which topbills Jodi Sta. Maria, as a challenge to society "to look into the real issues of life through a mother and child in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the port of Manila."
The film, also exhibited at the Pusan and Vancouver IFF last month, was lauded by Pusan festival programmer Kim Ji-seok as "a bold film that criticizes society, venting sympathy and anger at the same time."
Juror's choice
Meanwhile, Raul Jarolan's "The Red Shoes" bagged the Jurors Recognition Award at the 27th Bogota International Film Festival in Colombia last month.
"The Red Shoes" was the only Southeast Asian entry at the festival, said Guia Gonzales, project development manager of Unitel Productions, which produced the movie. The festival was concluded on October 7.
"The Red Shoes" tells the story of Lucas (Marvin Agustin) who, when he was 10, took a pair of red high heels from former First Lady Imelda Marcos' collection. The shoes became the focal point of the story of his youth, family life, career and love for his former girlfriend Bettina (Nikki Gil).
"We're on a roll," Gonzales told Inquirer Entertainment. From Bogota, the film was screened at the 18th China Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival in Beijing held from October 11 to 17. Then it competed at the first-ever Vietnamese International Film Festival in Hanoi, which ran from October 17 to 21.
"On top of this, Nikki was nominated as Best Actress at the Hanoi fest," said Gonzales. "Nikki attended the Star's Party, for Asian stars who earned nominations in the festival."
Brussels victory
As we announced earlier, Mark Meily's "Donor" won Best Film at the prestigious Brussels International Film Festival, besting over 100 films from Egypt, Morocco, India, South Korea, Indonesia, Germany, Chile, England and the United States. Meryll Soriano also won Best Actress.
"Donor" is the story of Lizette, who sells her kidney to a wealthy Arab in need of an organ replacement, to finance her job application abroad.
Agustin, the first Filipino actor to be invited to the prestigious Brussels event as juror, flew to Belgium on October 30.
"My mentor, Direk Joel Lamangan, advised me to 'just enjoy the films," Agustin told entertainment writers gathered at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for his send-off.
The 37th Brussels IFF ran from November 2 to 7.
Lamangan's "Sigwa," which features Dawn Zulueta, Gina Alajar and Agustin, was screened in exhibition at the festival.
Leipzig juror
Award-winning independent filmmaker Khavn dela Cruz was also a juror in the 53rd International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Films in Germany, which ran from October 18 to 24.
In 2007, Dela Cruz's film "Squatterpunk," which chronicles the lives of kids who scavenge for a living, was screened in the same festival.
This year, he was part of the three-member jury for the category "Young Talent Competition on Documentary Films."
'Sanglaan'
Milo Sogueco's film "Sanglaan (The Pawnshop)" will raise the Philippine flag in Germany when it participates in the ongoing 59th International Film Festival Mannheim Heidelberg (IFFMH), which runs until November 20.
"Sanglaan" was part of the IFFMH's International Discoveries section. It was picked from over 1,000 entries to join a selection of 50 films by new directors that the IFFMH will present this year, Sogueco reported.
"Sanglaan," which features Tessie Tomas and Ina Feleo, is about the struggles of owners and customers of an old pawnshop in Tondo.
The first full-length feature of director-photographer Sogueco, "Sanglaan" was also screened at the 9th Third Eye Asian Film Festival in Mumbai, held from October 30 to 31.
"It amazes us how our film's story resonates with people in different parts of the world. It is a privilege to be able to show it and share its message," said Sogueco.
(E-mail mcruz@inquirer.com.ph.)
