‘Nono’ goes to Berlin

THE YOUNG cast of “Nono”: (From left) Allen Dimaunahan, Russel Abulad and Axle Aeiou Samson.

It’s heartening to know that one of the Filipino films competing at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival next February is Rommel “Milo” Tolentino’s “Nono,”  which vies for the Silver Bear award in the Generation Kplus program (for movies featuring young children).

We sat down with Tolentino last week when we both served as judges at the Pasko-likula: The 2011 CCP Christmas Short Film Competition. He confesses, “I’m very close to my nephews and nieces. When they left for London, I kept writing stories for children – probably because I miss them.”

The film stars Axle Aeiou Samson as Toto, who has a cleft lip and palate, and is teased by many. One day, he decides to join a declamation contest. What happens next is a fun riot that also involves his family, friends and schoolmates.

Samson was discovered at an audition in Tatalon, Quezon City, where he lives as an informal settler. He then underwent a two-month acting workshop.

Tolentino shares, “When he was operated on as a baby, his lola accidentally dropped her purse on his fresh wound, resulting in a deformity. Three weeks ago, he went through surgery via Operation Smile.”

Grant

“Nono” received a script development grant from the Asian Cinema Fund of the Pusan International Film Festival in 2008. This week, it will have a theatrical run in Seoul, Korea, as part of the “Eight Colors of Asian Cinema” showcase, which features films from Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.

How did he get into the Berlinale? “We sent a screener when we were in Busan. The German screening committee knows its market – they saw something in our film that kids would like.”

Milo wants to take his cast and production team to Germany, but he laments, “The kids have no passports, yet – and we have to raise funds. We need all the help we can get.”