‘1st Sem’ goes to Ukraine

Scene from “1st Sem”

Dexter Hemedez and Allan Michael Ibañez’s “1st Sem” will compete in the 9th International Children’s Television Festival in Kharkiv, Ukraine, from Sept. 6 to 9. The festival aims “to discover and support gifted children [and] to improve the level of television oriented toward the youth.”

Ibañez told the Inquirer that they would not be able to grace the Ukraine event because it coincided with several screenings in the United States. “But we’re glad that it will be shown to Ukraine’s young people. We hope that the film will appeal to them and inspire them at the same time.”

Hemedez agreed: “Young viewers’ excitement and energy are encouraging; their reactions, always genuine and positive.”

Discoveries of last year’s CineFilipino tilt, the filmmakers expressed their “heartfelt gratitude to everyone who continues to appreciate their little charmer.” The comedy-drama relates the love-hate relationship of a harassed mom and her equally anxious son who’s going away to college.

Also known as “Dytiatko,” the Ukraine event seeks to draw the people, the government and the private sector’s attention to the issues of “development of the youth’s creativity … to the processes of personality formation through the information broadcast by the electronic media.”

Next stop for “1st Sem” in the United States is the 13th Ellensburg Film Festival, set from Oct. 6 to 8 at the Central Washington University. —BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR.