A film produced by a Filipino has been chosen in the talent program of the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), which will be held from Sept. 7 to 17 in Toronto, Canada.
“Village Keeper,” with Filipino Enrique Miguel Baniqued as producer, and Karen Chapman as writer and director, was selected for the TIFF Every Story Accelerator program.
Filipino producer Enrique Miguel Baniqued (Contributed photo)
According to TIFF, the TIFF Every Story Accelerator, “part of the RBC Screen Creators’ Initiative supported by the RBC Foundation, is a new programme that aims to help advance projects from emerging creators with diverse backgrounds who identify as Black, Indigenous, a person of color, 2SLGBTQ+ and/or from other equity-deserving groups.”
“Each year, two producer/director teams with feature-length projects in post-production will receive targeted support to pitch their projects to industry decision-makers in three key markets,” it added.
The two teams selected this year including Baniqued “will receive a Micki Moore Fellowship, supported by Toronto-based broadcaster, journalist and actor Micki Moore.”
“I'm excited to share that we just wrapped production for the feature film, Village Keeper, which is based on the award-winning short film, Measure (TIFF'19, HFPA/GOLDEN GLOBES),” Baniqued posted on his LinkedIn account.
He said “Village Keeper” is about “a single mother on an Eat, Pray, Love Journey-like journey starring the incomparable Olunike Adeliyi, showcasing the City of Toronto as its backdrop.”
“We're also elated to share that #VillageKeeper has been selected as one of two feature films to receive Toronto International Film Festival's Every Story, Talent Accelerator presented by RBC's Screen Creator & Emerging Artist Initiative at this year's festival. It's a targeted initiative that supports projects in post-production to pitch industry decision-makers in three different markets. Looking forward to meeting everyone at the festival and to the rest of Village Keeper's Journey,” he added.
A report by Playback Canada stated that “Village Keeper” will be in festivals in the second quarter of 2024. The film will be distributed in Canada by levelFILM with CBC as the Canadian broadcasting partner.
According to TIFF, “Enrique Miguel Baniqued’s remarkable journey began as an enterprising force at De La Salle University Manila, where he ignited his passion for innovation and entrepreneurship. Prior to his move to Toronto in 2019, he spearheaded a groundbreaking startup, transforming everyday products for students and corporations, showcasing his innate talent for revolutionizing the ordinary.”
It added, “Embracing the power of storytelling, Baniqued embarked on a passion-fuelled project titled Soul Surfer’s Podcast. Its compelling mission was to spotlight the environmental battle against a looming coal plant in a serene surf town.”
“Baniqued’s dedication made the podcast a catalyst for change, successfully halting construction by early 2021. Today, Baniqued’s creative brilliance graces prestigious Toronto entities such as Destination Toronto, the City of Toronto, The Academy, The JUNOS, and CBC’s Family Feud Canada, as well as various local commercial production companies,” it said.
TIFF added, “Inspired by the global resonance of South Korean cinema, Baniqued strives to replicate that success with Filipino stories as he aims to bring captivating narratives to audiences worldwide. Baniqued’s journey exemplifies the power of storytelling as a force for change, underscoring his commitment to amplifying underrepresented stories and making the world a better place, one narrative at a time.”