‘Hiblang Abo’ in Montreal

Jun Urbano

Ralston Jover’s “Hiblang Abo” is part of the Focus on World Cinema section of the 41st Montreal World Film Festival in Canada, which runs until Sept. 4.

Jover told the Inquirer: “We’re very excited to be screened in Montreal because it’s a validation of our hard work in creating this film, which is an adaptation of a stage play (by Rene Villanueva).”

The 2016 Cinemalaya movie topbills Lou Veloso, Leo Rialp, Nanding Josef and Jun Urbano as residents in a home for senior citizens.

Lou Veloso

“A Filipino story like ‘Hibla’ is unique,” Jover explained. “It reflects our identity as a people and as a Southeast Asian nation, with a different voice that the world needs to hear.”

Producer Bessie Badilla plans to attend the Montreal event, one of the top 15 A-list film festivals in the world, accredited by the FIAPF, or International Federation of Film Producers Association.  —BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR.