Iza joins Hanoi jury

Iza Calzado

Iza Calzado is “proud and humbled” to be part of the jury of the 4th Hanoi International Film Festival, ongoing in Vietnam until Nov. 5.

“I am very excited, because this is my first time to attend an international film festival,” she told the Inquirer. “It’s a huge honor to be part of this jury. I am looking forward to exchange ideas with respected filmmakers and actors from all over the world.”

She joins a formidable lineup headed by jury chair, French filmmaker Regis Wargnier, who won an Oscar for best foreign language film for “Indochine” in 1992.

French actress and “Indochine” star Catherine Deneuve is expected to grace the fest as well.

Other jury members are Hollywood actress Geraldine Chaplin (“Doctor Zhivago”), Indian filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Vietnamese director Dao Ba Son.

Calzado was nominated to be part of the jury by the Film Asean, a regional group comprising of government and private organizations involved in film development initiatives. Organizers point out that Calzado’s participation “highlights the prominent role the Philippines plays in the development of the film industry in Southeast Asia.”

The Philippines has one entry in Hanoi’s main tilt: Eduardo Roy Jr.’s “Pamilya Ordinaryo.” Four other Filipino films are in the Hanoi lineup: Mikee dela Cruz’s “Sibol” (in the short film competition), Lawrence Fajardo’s “Imbisibol” and King Palisoc’s “Tandem” (in the World Panorama section) and Lemuel Lorca’s “Water Lemon” (in the Selection of Asean Cinema program). Roy and “Pamilya” lead star Ronwaldo Martin are also attending the fest.

“My hope is that the Philippines will continue to garner acclaim for its contributions to world cinema,” Calzado said.