‘Imago’ wins in Toronto

RUBY Ruiz in “Imago”

Raymund Ribay Gutierrez’s “Imago” won the Short Cuts Award for best short film at the recent 41st Toronto International Film Festival. The jury explained: “Some films are not easy to watch. But it’s a beautiful thing to find a filmmaker who has a daring voice.”

The jurors praised the Filipino film as “a bold, cinematic statement,” adding that they “cannot wait to see what features this director will give to the world.”

The jury members in the short films competition include filmmakers Abteen Bagheri (United States), Eva Husson (France) and Jeff Barnaby (Canada). The honor comes with a $10,000 cash prize.

In a prepared speech read by a fest representative, Gutierrez, who wasn’t able to travel to Canada to attend the event, shared the award with his mentors, filmmakers Brillante Ma. Mendoza (who produced the film) and Armando Lao.

He described the recognition as “an inspiration.” Bayani San Diego Jr.