Mindanao film shines in Sinag Maynila awards

RS Francisco (left) and Malona Sulatan

A film on the raging armed conflict in Mindanao won the top prize in the third Sinag Maynila film festival awards ceremony held at SM Aura on Sunday night.

Apart from best film, debuting filmmaker Arbi Barbarona’s “Tu Pug Imatuy (The Right to Kill)” collected five other trophies—including best music (Barbarona), cinematography (Barbarona and Bryan Jimenez), screenplay (Arnel Mardoquio), director (Barbarona) and actress (Malona Sulatan).

Davao-based Barbarona told the Inquirer: “I am very happy that I was given the chance to share with the audience the story of the lumad (indigenous community) in Mindanao, who until now are caught in the crossfire … between the rebels and the military.”
Barbarona feels it’s important for more Filipinos, especially the youth, to learn about the plight of the lumad. “The government has failed to look after them … It’s important for the peace talks to continue. In times of war, ordinary people, the civilians, suffer the most.”

He is thrilled for lead star Sulatan, a real lumad farmer from Davao, who won best actress for his movie. “Her father is Manobo and her mother, Boholano. At first, she was nervous about acting in front of the camera. But since she was familiar with the story and the struggles of the lumad, it all came naturally for her.”

Sulatan agreed, saying that the screenplay hit close to home. “Our community was invaded by illegal loggers. Other people look down on us. I hope that, through this film, people will learn to respect the lumad.”

She sheepishly admitted that the award, which she would give to her mother for safekeeping, “[would] inspire her to make more movies … especially films that tell the stories of the lumad, who take care of the environment.”

Another big winner in this year’s Sinag Maynila was HF Yambao’s “Kristo,” which brought home five trophies.

Set in the world of cockfighting, “Kristo” bagged best sound (Albert Michael Idioma), editing (Diego Marx Dobles), production design (James Arvin Rosendal), supporting performer (Julio Diaz) and actor (Kristofer King).

For best actor, King tied with RS Francisco, who played a gay con artist in Joel Lamangan’s “Bhoy Intsik.”

After the ceremony, Francisco was in a daze because, he explained, it was his first time to win an award in his entire life.

He had to check the envelope onstage to make sure that he really won, because he didn’t want to end up like the producers of “La La Land,” he volunteered. (“La La Land” was mistakenly announced as best picture at the recent Oscars.)

“I really thought Kristofer deserved to win,” Francisco told the Inquirer. “He is one of the actors I admire.”

The triumph was sweet not only because it was unexpected, but because it came days after the first death anniversary of friend, filmmaker Francis Xavier Pasion. Francisco coproduced and acted in Pasion’s last film, “Bwaya.”

Francisco recalled that he had prayed the night before the awards show and had asked Pasion to look after his Sinag Maynila entry. “I remembered all those nights we spent talking on the set of ‘Bwaya.’ Francis knew about my dreams, not only for myself, but also for the movie industry.”

But would the trophy, which Francisco jokingly said he would turn into a headdress, encourage him to appear more frequently onscreen?

“Direk Joel said that he has a follow-up movie for me,” Francisco recounted. “I told him that I wanted to rest first. I need a breather after all this.”

“Bhoy Intsik” also won the fest’s Box Office Award, while Ricardo Carranza’s dance documentary “Beyond the Block” scored the SM People’s Choice Award. Best short film went to Karl Glenn Barit’s “Aliens Ata” and best documentary to Avelino Mark Balmes Jr.’s “Hango.”