‘Sally’ wins in Belgium

Rhian Ramos

Avid Liongoren’s “Saving Sally” won the Special Mention of the 7th Parallel Jury prize at the recent 35th Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFFF) in Belgium. The jury described the Filipino movie, which was commended for “mixing real shots and animation,” as “one of the best films” during the 12-day festival.

“It was a very fun festival with great food and great people,” Liongoren told the Inquirer.

Liongoren attended the screening on April 9, but was not able to grace the awarding ceremony on April 16. “I feel bad that I had to go home for work. It would’ve been wonderful to join the closing ceremonies, if only for the massive zombie parade. BIFFF is one of the bigger genre festivals.”

Liongoren turned reflective about the latest triumph of his movie, which previously won three citations at the Fantasporto Film Festival in Oporto, Portugal.

“Awards are nice little trinkets, and they make me want to work harder and make the next film project much better,” he said.

‘Humayo’ in Sydney

Meanwhile, Lav Diaz’s “Ang Babaeng Humayo” is one of the first 28 titles to be announced as part of the 64th Sydney Film Festival, to be held in Australia from June 7 to 18.

The festival describes the Venice-winning Filipino film as a “humane meditation on forgiveness and a criticism of systemic inequality … a testament to Diaz’s beguiling artistry.”

The fest notes that Diaz, a “Filipino master,” “is “known for very long narrative films that reflect on Philippine history and its effect on the present.”

The other films that comprise Sydney’s 200-plus program will be announced on May 10.

Festival director Nashen Moodley summed up the lineup, thus: “These films bring together thousands of talents and perspectives from across the globe, to create a lens—a way of looking at and experiencing aspects of the world and ourselves.” —BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR.