PH filmmaker on the jury of Pune fest

Filipino filmmaker Joseph Israel Laban will be sitting as a member of the jury of the 2019 Pune International Film Festival in India, the festival’s website had announced over the weekend.

This will be Laban’s first jury duty for an international film derby, said the director of films such as “Baconaua,” “Cuchera” and “Nuwebe.”

“No expectations,” said Laban when the Inquirer asked what he hoped to learn from the experience. “I’m just honored and excited to watch the films in the competition. This is the first time that I will sit on the jury of an international festival … and my first time in India.”

Also part of the six-member jury are filmmaker B. Lenin, actor-director Christer Holmgren, costume designer Daniela Ciancio, writer Kamlesh Pandey and filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage. The Pune IFF will run from Jan. 10 to 17. This year’s edition carries the theme, “In Search of Truth: Celebrating 150 Years of Mahatma.” —MARINEL R. CRUZ