A film “Tutob” (skullcap) by a junior BS Information Technology (IT) student of the School of Computer Studies (SCS), Kissza V. Campano, 19 is the lone entry from Mindanao to make it among ten finalists in the Short Feature Film Festival and Competition.
Director Campano’s cast and crew are likewise MSU-IIT students: Fer Mykiel Gonzales, Geoffrey Bonifacio, Ron Cagula, Lyka Cristina Diaz (Actors); Dale Brian Arana (Assistant Director); Ron Cagula (Music Score); Mark Jezreel Orbe (Cinematographer); Edwin Cabatuan and Krizza Justo (Assistant Cinematographers); Dan Cristino, Myllse Casiple and Kyff Baldonado (Editors); Stephen Malapote, Ron Cagula (Scriptwriters), Campano (Screenplay); with Orbe Productions and Arana and Orbe (Producers).
Credit: Grab from philstar.com
A project of Cinemalaya Foundation, CCP, Econolink Investments, Inc. and the Film Development Council of the Philippines, Cinemalaya, according to the Manila Standard Today “aims to discover, encourage and honor cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Philippine experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity.”
Cinemalaya 2013 is to be held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Ayala Cinemas in Trinoma, Greenbelt 3 and at the Alabang Town Center on July 26- August 4, 2013. It showcases 15 new films from a total of 70 films and where 25 of these are in competition for New Breed (upcoming directors); Directors showcase (veteran filmmakers), and Short Feature for Short Films or films that run from 8 to 20 minutes. Among the films in the festival are by young and veteran filmmakers. Of the new generation of filmmakers are Mikail Red (son of veteran filmmaker Raymond Red), Eduardo Roy, Emmanuel Palo and Christopher Ad. Castillo (nephew of the famous Celso Ad. Castillo); and, among the veteran directors are Gil Portes, Adolf Alix and Ces Evangelista. Veteran actress and director Laurice Guillen is Festival Director.
Campano’s entry, “Tutob” is a short film that tells of a motorcycle-riding Maranao who arrives in the city to pick up a package from his boss’s contact. The city is on alert because of recent bombings in the region and the Maranao, speaking of course in Maranao, tells the soldiers at a checkpoint that he does not know what the package contains. The film’s theme begins to unravel when the Bisayan-speaking soldiers order him to open the package.
In a separate interview, Campano said that the film attempts to show ordinary lives and urges people not to rush to judging others “harshly.” She narrated that it was difficult to film “Tutob” especially at a real military checkpoint where soldiers suspected her and her crew to be “subversives” passing off as filmmakers. Eventually, the soldiers allowed themselves to become part of the film and in turn, Campano said, they were given pizza, beer and a copy of “Tutob”.
“Tutob” is a timely film especially in light of the recent bombing in Cagayan de Oro City where eight people died and the spate of text messages and published letters in Facebook warning Mindanaoans in Central and Northern Mindanao of bombings in malls and other crowded places to be carried out by bad elements.
During the First MSU-IIT Institute for Peace Development in Mindanao (IPDM) film festival in 2012, “Tutob” took majority of the awards as Best Short Film, Best Director, Best in Cinematography, Best Story, Best in Production Design, Best Sound Scoring, and the award for Best Actor. Again it won in the NCCA sponsored 5th Cinemagis Digital Short Film Festival held at Xavier University in 2013. The film won in the Student Category this year raking in most of the awards for Best Short Film, Best Direction, Best in Art Direction, Best Editing, Best Actor, and in Best Sound Scoring.
In the same year, Campano was official delegate as Director when “Tutob” was featured in the non-competition national film festival during the Cinema Rehiyon 5 held in Los Banos, Laguna that showcased regional films all over the country.
Campano began her love for filmmaking in her fourth year IT class at the Integrated Development School (IDS) with her Adviser Ronald Jay P. Hupa. She hopes to pursue her dream in filmmaking in the future.
This year’s winners in the Short Feature Category are released today, August 5, 2013 by the Philippine Daily Inquirer: “The Husband’s Wife” (Best film); “Onang” (Best direction); “Taya” (Special Jury Prize); “Sa Wakas” (Special Citation); and, “The Husband’s Wife” (Best screenplay). (CGO/OC-OPI)
Topics : ipdm film tech competition awards