Ena Legaspi‘s “Alas-Nuebe ng Tanghali” brought home the Sine Kabataan Audience Choice Award during the 2018 Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino Gabi ng Pasasalamat held last August 19 at Whitespace, Don Chino Roces Ave. Ext., Makati City.
The short film, which was screened along with Jason Paul Laxamana’s “Bakwit Boys” during the PPP week-long run from August 15 to 21 in cinemas nationwide, focuses on three children who imagined the nicest toys and tastiest food in their house only to find out that everything is not what they seem to be.
“The film is a short and honest narrative of how life is never perfect as what our three youth characters would dream of,” said Legaspi, who directed, co-wrote and co-edited the film.
An alumna of the Far Eastern University Department of Communication and the FEU Film Society, Legaspi got the support of previous members of her Square Up Productions team when she was still in college — director of photography and co-editor Prince Viterbo, production manager, co-writer, and co-production designer Mary Lourdes Membrebe, and assistant director, production designer and graphic designer Peej Tapel.
“Alas-Nuebe ng Tanghali” was shown again at the Cinematheque Centre Manila last September 19 along with “Anonymous Student Vlog” by fellow FEU Filmsoc alumnus Christian Babista, Best Short Film winner “Bato Bato Pik” by Lorys Plaza and AJ Sanque, Special Jury Prize awardee “Koleksyong Pamalo” by Len Frago, “Masaya Ako” by Best Director winners Daniel Delgado and Tiara Angelica Nicolas, #GlobeOfGood awardee “Runner” by Levi Jun Miscala, “Bahay-bahayan” by Brian Spencer Reyes, and “Isang Tula Para Sa Nawawala” by Rod Singh.
Sine Kabataan, one of the pet programs of then National Youth Commission Chair Ice Seguerra with the Film Development Council of the Philippines, was launched last year in order to give a platform to all aspiring young filmmakers and to provide an opportunity to showcase their talents.
