Cheer Factor: One more for ‘Waking Journey’

“Walking the Waking Journey”: Lama Telzin Cheogyal (third from right, second row) brings his wards back to their villages in the Himalayas via perilous mountain trails. Pinoy indie filmmaker Ferdinand Balanag directed this documentary.

Apart from winning the River Pursuit Award (best first full feature documentary), “Walking the Waking Journey” also won the River Amulet Award (best director, feature docu) for filmmaker Ferdinand John Balanag at the Silent River film fest in Irvine, California. Next stop for the docu is the 11th Kansas International Film Festival on October 2. The Kansas fest aims to increase public awareness of independent and classic cinema as a cultural, economic and educational asset.—Bayani San Diego Jr.