2 Filipino films win awards at the 2022 Sundance film fest

TWO Filipino films — one about an aspiring country singer, and another about a retired filmmaker, both of whom have a common goal of fulfilling their passions — were honored at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival awarding ceremony on Jan. 29.

Don Josephus Eblahan’s The Headhunter’s Daughter won the Short Film Grand Jury Prize while Martika Ramirez Escobar’s Leonor Will Never Die won the Special Jury Award in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition. Both films had their world premieres at this year’s virtual film festival.

The Headhunter’s Daughter follows an aspiring country singer (played by Ammin Acha-ur) who leaves home with her horse named July, and journeys from the Cordilleran highlands to the city to audition for a televised singing competition.

“We were entranced by this poetic and dream-like film which follows its character with gorgeous cinematography, direction, and acting, capturing a unique sense of place,” presenting juror Blackhorse Lowe said at the ceremony, reading the film’s citation for The Headhunter’s Daughter.

A post on The Headhunter’s Daughter’s official Facebook page stated: “Our hearts are full from all the kind messages and thoughtful reception about our film. We are grateful for this opportunity to premiere our film in Sundance, but to win the Grand Jury Prize brings a whole new layer of emotions, still currently being processed by each, and everyone involved in the film. But one thing is for certain, we are all overjoyed! Salamat! (Thank you!).”

Leonor Will Never Die follows retired filmmaker Leonor Reyes (played by Sheila Francisco) who, after a near death experience, falls into a coma and finds herself as the protagonist of her own unfinished screenplay.

“Switching in-between genres, this film within a film follows an ailing screenwriter who enters her unfinished screenplay of a gangster film to experience and edit her own creation. Constantly shifting in tone, the film is a playful display of the love of cinema. Its innovative and risk-taking spirit is especially commendable,” presenting juror La Frances Hui said, reading the film’s citation for Leonor Will Never Die.

“Films can speak and films can be heard, and today I’m glad that our film is felt by the jury. Thank you so much Sundance Film Festival, our spirits are smiling,” Leonor Will Never Die director Ms. Escobar wrote on Facebook.

“Salamat sa lahat ng nanood, bumati, nagkwento, nagparamdam, nagreact, umiyak, ngumiti at nagpakita ng pagmamahal sa aming pelikula (Thank you to everyone who watched, greeted, talked about, flet, reacted, cried, smiled, and showed love for our movie),” she added.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film festival was held online for a second consecutive year. It ran from Jan. 20 to 30.

Founded in 1978 by the Sundance Institute, the Sundance Film Festival is the largest independent film festival in the United States and is held annually in Park City, Utah. Filmmakers who had their breakthrough at the film festival include Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith, David O. Russel, and Darren Aronofsky. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman