Film on T’boli tops CCP’s Gawad Alternatibo

A FILM about a T’boli dancer who experiences a sudden turn of events in her pursuit of a good life for her family, bagged first prize in the Short Feature category and Best Regional Entry at the 30^th Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video awards night held on Aug. 6 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).
Rufyla, Coleen Tanco’s capstone project under the digital filmmaking program of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) School of Design and Arts (SDA), bested more than a 100 entries in the category. The young filmmaker hails from Koronadal City, South Cotabato.
“Rufyla started when our house helper left us in her pursuit to get married to a foreigner. She is a 23-year-old girl who desired a good life even if it took her to a red-light district in Manila. She believes that only a wealthy man can save her from poverty. As luck would have it, she nailed it,” the Benilde alumna explained when asked what inspired her to make her thesis film.
“I hope the film will create and build a language that helps delineate what it means to be living in a remote area in the southern part of the Philippines. I also hope that the film will root for the indigenous people and make everyone aware not to treat the Filipino culture like a worthless material,” Ms. Tanco added after learning about her twin victories.
Sharing honors with Rufyla in the Short Feature category were Amusin Pa by Rauza Masculino (Mapua University/1440 Productions) as Best Entry On/For/By Children; Para kay James by Steven Paul Evangelio (UP Diliman) and Palabas (A Country in Movie Pictures) by Arjanmar H. Rebeta (Pelikmata Productions) which shared 2^nd place; and Wala’y Humayan sa Tanglad by Neil Angelo Briones (University of San Carlos/Team 78 Productions) in 3^rd.
The winners in the Animation category were ‘Wag mo ’Kong Kausapin by Josef Gacutan (University of the Philippines), 1^st prize; Peacekeeper by Joshua Q. dela Cruz, 2^nd prize; and, Chase by Rosette D. Caoile (Ateneo de Zamboanga University), 3^rd prize.
In the Experimental Category, 1^st prize went to Ang Pagtuklas sa Larangan ng Pagiging Maria Clara by Lady B. Vicente (Mapua University), 2^nd to Missing Cassettes, or Things Lost When Moving by Mervine Aquino (UP Film Institute), and 3^rd, Sa Tabi ng mga Anito by Gabrielle Lloyd D. Reyes (Mapua University/1440 Films.
Pagkatapos ng Tigkiriwi by Danielle Madrid (UP Diliman) bagged 1^st prize in the Documentary category, with Binibining Detainee by Max Canlas (UP Diliman) and Our Lives and Other Fairytales by Alyssa Suico bagging 2^nd and 3^rd place, respectively.
Rufyla is also among the short films that will compete at FACINE 25: The 25^th Annual Filipino International Cine Festival from Oct. 18 to 21 in San Francisco, California.
Established in 1987, Gawad Alternatibo is considered the longest-running independent film festival and competition of its kind in the ASEAN region. A few years ago, it became one of the major components of the annual Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.