PH film editor wins in Nice

Raymond Francisco in “Bhoy Intsik”

A Filipino film editor won at the recent Nice International Film Festival held in France.

John Anthony Wong scored the best editing prize in the Foreign Language Film category of the French festival for Joel Lamangan’s “Bhoy Instik,” edging out finalists from South Korea, France, India, Japan, Turkey and other countries.

“I feel very honored to be the first Filipino to win in the best editing category of the Nice fest,” Wong told the Inquirer.

The award and the movie are “close to my heart,” he said, “not only because I was able to work with Direk Joel again, but also because I was able to bring pride to the country.”

He related that lead actor Raymond Francisco’s “amazing portrayal … had inspired me to cut the film in such a way that viewers would feel as if they were part of his journey. I wanted them to experience every joy and pain.”

Wong, who is managing director of Edge Manila Creatives Corporation, pointed out: “I edit movies to make the audience sympathize, criticize but eventually understand a character’s decisions, leading them to a satisfying conclusion.”

According to Wong, the entire “Bhoy Instik” team was “hands-on,” in ensuring the success of the movie, an entry in last year’s Sinag Maynila festival. “It was a collaborative process.”

Wong also teaches at the film department of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts. He is a product of Ricky Lee’s 14th scriptwriting workshop. —BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR.