Docu on Filipino convict wins 2 awards in NY Tribeca fest

LOS ANGELES—“Give Up Tomorrow,” a documentary on the trial of one of seven suspects in the kidnap, rape and murder of two teenage sisters in Cebu, won two awards Saturday night in the 10th annual Tribeca Film Festival (TFF) in New York.

PACO Larrañaga is serving a double-life term in San Sebastian, Spain. ALEX BADAYOS

The docu was given the Heineken Audience Award and a Special Jury Mention prize in the World Documentary Competition of the festival, which opened April 20.

Audiences voted for the Heineken award upon exiting screenings of TFF films. “Give Up Tomorrow” topped all films in the competition categories—World Narrative, World Documentary, Viewpoints, Spotlight and Cinemania.

Michael Collins, who directed “Give Up Tomorrow” with Marty Syjuco as producer, will receive a cash prize of $25,000, according to festival organizers.

In the docu, Collins, Syjuco and cinematographer Joshua Weinstein followed the trial of Francisco “Paco” Larrañaga, convicted with six others of the kidnap, rape and murder of Marijoy and Jacqueline Chiong.

Collins told the Inquirer via e-mail: “This is our first film and we were just so happy to be selected to play at such a prestigious festival. For Marty and me, that was winning already.”

Yoko’s nod

In her blog, imaginepeace.com, Yoko Ono posted: “The docu is a must-see, made with passion and love for justice.”

Larrañaga is serving a double-life term in San Sebastian, Spain, on account of a prisoners exchange treaty between Spain and the Philippines. A dual citizen of the two countries, he was 19 at the time of his arrest. He was previously held at the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City.

Family and friends insist he is innocent. Syjuco is Larrañaga’s brother-in-law (his brother is married to Paco’s sister).

In an earlier interview with the Inquirer, Syjuco stressed he was aware that his relation to Larrañaga might throw doubts on the film’s integrity. “I know people will question my objectivity, but… I now strongly believe that many Filipino prisoners have been denied due process, or are innocent, or both.”

The docu took six years to finish and was shot in Cebu, Manila, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, London, Barcelona, Madrid and San Sebastian.

Collins is the founder of Thoughtful Robot, a production company dedicated to making films that tackle social justice issues. Last year, he, Syjuco and the docu’s editor, Eric Metzgar, participated in Sundance Institute’s Documentary Edit and Story Lab, which supports filmmakers during post-production.

For one intensive week, the trio worked on “Give…” and met with established editors and directors, including Sundance founder Robert Redford, for feedback.

Collins said he got involved in the docu in 2004, when the Supreme Court elevated Larrañaga’s sentence to death by lethal injection. “Marty’s brother told me the situation and asked if I could make a web animation depicting the injustices that Paco suffered during his trial.”

Before agreeing, Collins said, he did his own research and came upon a letter by ‘The Unheard 35’—witnesses who said they were with Paco in Manila when the Chiong sisters went missing in Cebu.

Collins understood that the film might re-ignite controversy and bring up painful memories for all families involved. “Our goal is not to heal individual wounds, but to tell the truth,” he said.

The TFF received a record number of 5,624 submissions this year. The two awards that “Give…” earned is a vindication of sorts for Collins and Syjuco who struggled to keep the project going.

Syjuco said they felt like quitting “every day for six years. And then we’d think about Paco and how he has survived almost 14 years in prison, telling himself each day to give up tomorrow, instead of today.”