Indie Films "Independencia" and "Imburnal" Win Awards in 2009 Bangkok International Film Festival

Two Pinoy independent (indie) films emerged victorious in the just concluded Bangkok International Film Festival 2009.

The black-and-white film Independencia bagged two prizes while Imburnal was given a Special Mention in the filmfest that took place in Thailand from September 24-30.

Independencia was the Grand Prize winner in the Southeast Asian Category and the recipient of the NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) Jury Prize Award. The period film set during the American colonization of the Philippines stars Sid Lucero, Tetchie Agbayani, and Alessandra de Rossi.

The jury awarded Independencia the Grand Prize in the Southeast Asian category "for its strong cinematic expression. The film is visually adventurous with humor, expressing historical aspects while also very friendly to the audience."

The NETPAC Award was given to Independencia "for its cinematic creation exploring the history of the Philippines and the history of Philippine Cinema within the limited space and with a few characters."

Meanwhile, the 2008 Cinema One entry Imburnal (which shared the award with Malaysian James Lee's Call If You Need Me) was given a Special Mention honor "for putting together a very risky concept with complicated sociopolitical background, and for the director's courage and bravery."


Another Filipino indie film, Aurora, also competed in this year's edition of the Bangkok IFF.

The jury of the Southeast Asian Category was composed of Vincenzo Bugno, Royston Tan, and Tul Waitoonkiat.

Brillante Mendoza served as a jury member in the main competition of the Bangkok IFF and his obra Kinatay was screened in the non-competition section.

The Piolo Pascual-starrer Manila was also be screened in the Southeast Asian Panorama section. It was recently announced that the film, co-directed by Adolf and Raya, would compete in a separate film festival that will take place in Warsaw, Poland.

Piolo Pascual's "Manila" to be Screened in 2009 Cannes Film Festival

The lineup of the 62nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival was announced on April 23. And one of the six films chosen to have a special screening in Cannes is Pinoy independent film 'Manila'.

Manila is a twin-bill film produced and starred by Philippine's hottest star Piolo Pascual. Piolo appears in the two episodes inspired by Ishmael Bernal's 1980 movie Manila By Night and by Lino Brocka's 1979 film Jaguar (slang for security guard). Manila also stars Rosanna Roces who plays Piolo's mother in the film. This film was directed by Adolfo Alix Jr.

Two other Filipino films have entered the prestigious list. One of which is Brillante "Dante" Mendoza's 'Kinatay (the Execution of P)'. Kinatay is one of 20 films chosen to compete in the prestigious Palme d’Or (Golden Palm) competition. Other movies are Inglourious Basterds directed by Quentin Tarantino and Taking Woodstock directed by Ang Lee. Brad Pitt will topbill Tarantino's World War II action film. Taking Woodstock is a comedy based on the legendary three-day concert that took place in the '60s.

Previously titled Chop Chop, this film is based on victims whose body parts have been chopped off and mutilated by killers.

The film stars Mendoza regulars Coco Martin and Julio Diaz. They are joined by John Regala, Jhong Hilario, Lauren Novero, Benjie Filomeno and Maria Isabel Lopez.

It also features special roles by Alan Paule, Susan Africa, Ping Medina, Lou Veloso, directors Mark Meily and Jim Libiran, broadcaster Arlyn dela Cruz and Mercedes Cabral (who is appearing in another Cannes entry Thirst from South Korea). Mayor Ben Hur Abalos of Mandaluyong also appears as himself.

This is Dante’s third consecutive Cannes appearance. In 2007, his Foster Child was in the Director’s Fortnight. And his Serbis was among last year's finalists for the prestigious Palme d’Or.

Aside from Manila and Kinatay, Raya Martin’s family drama set in the early 1900s titled 'Independencia' will have its world premiere in Cannes. This is Martin’s second film in Cannes after last year’s Now Showing which was shown in the Director’s Fortnight section.

Independencia is one of 20 films included in the section called Prix Un Certain Regard, which is dedicated to "young talent, innovative and audacious works." Independencia was produced using a 120,000-euro (P7 million) grant from the French government called Fonds Sud Cinema. This period film tells the story of a mother and son who run off to the mountains during the American occupation.

Independencia stars Sid Lucero, Alessandra de Rossi and Tetchie Agbayani.

The 62nd Cannes Film Festival will run from May 13 to 24, 2009. The winner of the highly coveted Palme d’Or, which is a prelude to the Oscars, will be announced on the 24th.