A FIVE-MINUTE documentary about an Uber driver with Tourette’s Syndrome won the top prize at the recently concluded Istorya ng Pag-asa (INP) Film Festival.
Ang Biyahe ni Marlon, directed by Florence Rosini, was named Best Film at the film festival’s gala night and awarding ceremony held on June 12 at Cinema 6, Glorietta 4 in Makati City.
Tourette’s Syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, stereotyped, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics.
The film showed how Marlon Fuentes overcame his condition by finding people with similar conditions in the Philippine Tourette Syndrome Association and through the support of his family.
The film festival was created by the Office of the Vice-President and Ayala Foundation and aimed “to enlist professional and non-professional filmmakers as partners in telling stories of hope and inspiration involving ordinary Filipinos,” according to a statement.
“We celebrate the ordinary Filipino’s triumph over adversity, but that does not mean we should resign ourselves to such a life. We need to understand why our people languish and we need to question why we have not been able to break free from the shackles of poverty and adversity. Only when we do can we figure out how to do better,” said Vice-President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, during her opening remarks.
The film festival received over 70 short films before whittling them down to the final 15, all of which were presented in the June 12 event.
Tago by Meg Seranilla, a short film about jazz drummer Nelson Gonzales who runs Tago Jazz Café in Quezon City, was named first runner-up while Gawilan by Kelsy Lua was named second runner-up. The film tells the story of Ernie Gawilan, a swimmer who competed in the 2016 Summer Paralympics.
The top three films will be screened in Ayala Mall Cinemas nationwide from June 13 to 30.
The top films ​were also uploaded onto the film festival’s YouTube page.
Aside from the top three films, the festival also named Anna Mikaela Dizon the Best Director trophy for her film Pamilya Bernardo, the story of two women who find light inside their home amid discrimination because of their malformed limbs.
Best Cinematography was given to The Climbing Puppeteer by AR Angcos. The film is about a business process outsourcing (BPO) professional and hiker who uses ventriloquism to reach out to poor communities in the mountains.
Best Script was given to Ang Gahum Sang Daku Nga Handum by Demy Cruz, Jr., which is about an eloquent young teacher from the Ata Tribe of Negros.
The winners were determined by a panel of judges which included screenwriter Doy del Mundo, filmmakers Dan Villegas and Quark Henares, actress Shamaine Buencamino, and Film Development Council of the Philippines chairperson Liza Diño. — ZBC

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