By Raymund Antonio
A short film about the chairman of a fisherfolk organization in Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay won the top prize at this year’s Istorya ng Pag-asa Film Festival.
Ka Dodoy (ISTORYA NG PAG-ASA / FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Ka Dodoy” was named Best Film at the INPFF gala night and awarding ceremony Saturday night at the Ayala Trinoma Cinema 7.
The Best Film features Roberto "Ka Dodoy" Ballon Jr., chairman of the Kapunungan sa mga Gamay ng Mangingisda sa Concepcion. This was directed by Meg Seranilla and Mark Aposaga. They took home a cash prize of P80,000.
His leadership, compassion, and sense of duty were instrumental in saving his community's fish stock from collapsing, and regaining their fish by inspiring and educating people on cooperation and conservation.
"Maglabay Ra in Sakit," a short film about Khalid Hamid (RkJun), a 23-year-old Tausug rap artist, who is determined to pursue rap music, even as he is beset by the challenges of poverty, loss, and the effects of terrorism in Southern Mindanao, was named first runner-up, winning for Mijan Jumalon a P50,000 cash prize.
The "Litratista" by Allan Lazaro won the second runner-up for a cash prize of P30,000. This short film is about Nanay Fely, who found her niche in photography after she became the official photographer of public elementary schools in Manila.
The top three films will be screened at Ayala Mall Cinemas from June to October this year.
The INPFF is a nationwide, all-digital film competition for original short documentaries featuring extraordinary stories of ordinary Filipinos. This aims to give a platform for Filipino filmmakers showcasing true and inspiring stories of hope.
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) organized the INPFF 2019 in partnership with the Ayala Foundation and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).
Speaking at the event, Vice President Leni Robredo said the film festival was not about stories of "poverty and tragedy" of Filipinos, but the "long and arduous process behind its retelling, and the power of moving pictures."
"We wanted to elevate the art of storytelling to inspire more people and give them hope torise above today’s extraordinary times because the miracles that we need to shape our future are best told through the screen," she said.
Special awards were also given to the following:
• Best Director for Allan Lazaro for his short film "Litratista”
• Best Cinematography and the Ayala Foundation Community Development Award for "Ka Dodoy" by Meg Serranilla and Mark Aposaga
• Best Editing for Mijan Jumalon for "Maglabay Ra In Sakit"
• People's Choice Award for "Yapak” by Romel Mondragon Lozada
• The Office of the Vice President Special Recognition Award for "Modern Day Hero" by Roy Robert Rusiana
The winners were chosen by a panel of judges, which included screenwriter Doy del Mundo, filmmakers Dan Villegas and Quark Henares, actress Shamaine Buencamino, and representative of FDCP chairperson Liza Diño.