Rap battle film Respeto the big winner at 13th Cinemalaya film fest
A TIMELY and timeless tale of a teenage boy’s rise from poverty and violence through rap and poetry, Respeto bagged the majority of accolades at this year’s Cinemalaya Film Festival including Best Film, Best Cinematography, and Audience Choice awards.
The awards night of the 13th Cinemalaya Film Festival was held Sunday at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Cited for its “infectious, propulsive energy, its highly convincing cast of characters, and very effective ensemble acting, its breathtaking, nearly epic sweep of the underside of Manila,” and its convincing combination of “contemporary rap and traditional oral literature,” Respeto stars young rappers Abra and Loonie. It was directed by Treb Monteras II.
Respeto also bagged the prizes for Best Supporting Actor for Dido dela Paz, Best Sound, Best Editing, and the NETPAC Jury Prize
The NETPAC Award is given to Asian feature films by a jury from the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema. The members of this year’s NETPAC were scriptwriter Ricky Lee, Indian writer and director Ismail Basbeth, and Mongolian film distributor Tsengel Davaasambuu.
NETPAC cited Respeto for “tackling the complex issue of human rights violation across two generations, musically connected by the vibrant and socially conscious use of language.”
Respeto shares the Best Cinematography award with Baconaua which was cited for its “powerful application of light and shadow and effective rendering of shots and images.”
Baconaua revolves around a sleepy fishing village that wakes up one day to the sight of a sea covered in apples.
This year’s main competition jury members were editor and professor Joselito B. Zulueta, cinematographer Lee Briones-Meily, screenwriter Sheron Dayoc, Freddi Wong, and Indian filmmaker Padmashri Dr. Girish Kasaravalli. – Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman
And the winner is…
THE WINNERS of the 13th Cinemalaya Film Festival are:
FULL LENGTH MOVIE
• Best Full-length Film: Respeto
• Best Director: Joseph Israel Laban for Baconaua
• Best Actor: Noel Comia, Jr. in Kiko Boksingero
• Best Actress: Angeli Bayani in Bagahe
• Best Supporting Actor: Dido de la Paz in Respeto
• Best Supporting Actress: Yayo Aguila
in Kiko Boksingero
• Best Cinematography: Ike Avellana for Respeto
and TM Malones for Baconaua
• Best Editing: Lawrence Ang for Respeto
• Best Screenplay: Zig Dulay for Bagahe
• Best Sound: Corinne de San Jose for Respeto
• Best Musical Score: Kiko Boksingero
• Best Production Design: Marxie Maolen Fadul
for Nabubulok
• Special Jury Prize: Baconaua
• NETPAC Jury Prize: Respeto
• Audience Choice: Respeto
SHORT FILM
• Best Short Film: Hilom
• Best Screenplay: Duwi Monteagudo for Bawod
• Best Director: E. del Mundo for Manong ng Pa-aling
• NETPAC Jury Prize: Aliens Ata
• Special Jury Prize: Fatima Marie Torres
and the Invasion of Space Shuttle Pinas 25
• Audience Choice: Nakauwi Na
