‘Norte’ tops Cinemanila awards

A TOAST at the fest opening (from left): Taguig City Councilor Ferdie Santos, festival director Tikoy Aguiluz, filmmaker Mike Sandejas, singer Joey “Pepe” Smith and Korean director Kim Byung-woo. Photo courtesy of Cinemanila International Film Festival

Miracles do happen.

In spite of the holiday rush, the screening of Lav Diaz’s four-hour epic “Norte, Hangganan ng Kasayasayan” at the Cinemanila International Film Festival held at the SM Aura on Dec. 22 was an SRO (standing room only) affair, according to festival director Tikoy Aguiluz.

The 200-seat cinema was packed, related indie film producer Kristine Kintana, a cast member of “Norte.” It was nothing less than miraculous, Kintana wrote on Facebook.

JOHN Lazam accepts trophy for best short film. Photo courtesy of Cinemanila International Film Festival

Also on Facebook, filmmaker and Inquirer Indie Bravo! awardee Francis Xavier Pasion, who was present at the screening, hailed “Norte” as “disturbing, powerfully [acted] and masterfully directed.” He said the experience of watching it was a “blessing.”

“Norte,” which won raves from foreign critics when it premiered in Cannes last May, won a major prize at the Cinemanila awards, too.

In the International Cinema section, Diaz tied with Brazil’s Kieber Mendonça Filho (“Neighboring Sound”) for best director.

Frontrunners in the Oscar best foreign language film derby topped this section: Paolo Sorrentino’s “The Great Beauty” (Italy) won the Lino Brocka Grand Prize; Rithy Panh’s “The Missing Picture” (Cambodia), the Grand Jury award.

HOSTS Angeli Bayani and Jake Macapagal (right) chat with winner Raya Martin. Photo courtesy of Cinemanila International Film Festival

The Digital Lokal section was topped by Raya Martin’s “How to Disappear Completely,” which won best film and director.

In the Young Cinema category, Theo Lozada won the Ishmael Bernal award (for “Tunga”); John Lazam’s “Pantomina ng mga Anyong Ikinubli ng Alon,” best short.