8 PH films in Dhaka fest

Arnold Reyes (center) in “Pitong Kabang Palay”

Eight Filipino movies will be shown at the 15th Dhaka International Film Festival in Bangladesh, from Jan. 12 to 20. Vying for top honors in the Asian Competition category are Vic Acedillo Jr.’s “Lando at Bugoy,” Joseph Israel Laban’s “The Sisters” and Eduardo Roy Jr.’s “Pamilya Ordinaryo.”

Also included in the Cinema of the World section are Lemuel Lorca’s “Water Lemon,” Alvin Yapan’s “An Kubo sa Kawayanan” and Louie Ignacio’s “Laut.”

Meanwhile, Maricel C. Cariaga’s “Pitong Kabang Palay” is featured in the Children’s Films lineup, while Gutierrez Mangansakan II’s “The Daughters of the Three Tailed Banner” is part of the Spiritual category.

According to the fest’s website, this year’s edition will showcase 170 films from 60 countries. Organized by the Rainbow Film Society, the festival is “dedicated to the promotion of a healthy movie culture in Bangladesh and the celebration of global cinema.”

The fest’s slogan says it all: “Better films. Better audience. Better society.”—BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR.