Better bring your umbrellas as frogs are about to fall from the sky
Maria Estela Paiso’s “It’s Raining Frogs Outside” featurette will be representing the Philippines at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival, happening from Feb. 10 to 20 in Berlin, Germany, and joining the Berlinale Shorts Competition.
News about it heading to the prestigious festival was announced last January. “It’s Raining Frogs Outside,” or “Ampangabagat Nin Talakba Ha Likol,” the short film’s original title in Sambal language, is Paiso’s directorial debut. Produced by Gale Osorio, the 13-minute film plot centers on a girl named Maya who went home to Zambales as the world is about to meet its end.
“There, she confronts a house that terrorizes her as frog rain outside,” its synopsis says. “It uses Sambal as the main language while the protagonist recounts her struggles of being forced to stay at home and confront the demons of her past, present, and future.”
According to the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), this is not the first time Paiso made it to the international film fest. In 2018, she produced the short film, “Babylon,” which also competed for the same category.
Prior to its international debut, the short film was released at the QCinema International Film Festival last December and bagged the Gender Sensitivity Award.
“It is opportune that it will also have the chance to have its international premiere in such a prestigious film festival such as the Berlinale,” Osorio told FDCP. “I have a lot of trust in the amazing work our team put into this short film.”
“It’s Raining Frogs Outside” will be shown at the Berlin International Film Festival on Feb. 13, 2022, at 9:30 p.m. at the Cubix 9, and will have other screenings on various cinemas in Berlin on Feb. 14, 18, and 19.
Watch its trailer here:
Hello, readers! Do you have a story you want us to feature? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter and let’s talk about it.