PH films win in Portugal

Rhian Ramos and Enzo Marcos in “Saving Sally”

Two Filipino films topped the 37th Oporto International Film Festival or Fantasporto, which culminated in Portugal on March 4.

Avid Liongoren’s live action/animated film, “Saving Sally,” brought home three awards: The Jury’s Special Award in the International Fantasy section, Honorable Mention in the Orient Express competition, as well as the Audience Award.

Jurors of the International Fantasy program commended Liongoren’s film “for taking a simple love story and expressing it in a very imaginative and creative way.”

Liongoren told the Inquirer: “[We feel] honored, of course. We had no idea how our film would be received outside our country, so we got lucky that they liked it enough to give us laurels. Hope to receive more [laurels] so we can cook adobo!”

Meanwhile, Eduardo Roy Jr.’s gritty urban drama “Pamilya Ordinaryo” won two awards in Fantasporto’s Directors’ Week tilt, which is now in its 27th edition. The Cinemalaya winner bagged best film in the section, while lead star Hasmine Killip tied for best actress with Egypt’s Nahed El Sebai, who won for “Sins of the Flesh.”

Hasmine Killip and Ronwaldo Martin in “Pamilya Ordinaryo”

Roy said of his film’s latest victory: “I got surprised that we won because it has almost been a year, and our film is still reaping honors abroad. This is our film’s eighth award. I’m a bit sad that we were not able to go to Portugal, but our film will join more festivals this year. Abangan!”

Oporto is considered a “capital of cinema” and was declared a World Heritage City by the Unesco. —BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR.