3 PH shorts in German fest

“Jodilerks dela Cruz, Employee of the Month”

Three Filipino films—Carlo Francisco Manatad’s “Jodilerks dela Cruz, Employee of the Month,” Andrew Stephen Lee’s “Manila is Full of Men Named Boy” and Arvin Kadiboy Belarmino and Noel Escondo’s “Nakaw”—will be screened at the 20th Landshut Short Film Festival in Germany in March.

While Manatad is still unsure of attending as of press time, Belarmino confirmed to us that he’s going. “I’m very excited,” he said on Wednesday, the same day the Inquirer received a message from German film programmer Axel Estein about the participation of the three Pinoy films in the said fest.

“I expect to meet other filmmakers and watch great films from Germany and across the globe,” said Belarmino. “From this experience, I aspire to learn more about the film culture of Germany and hopefully use what I’ll learn in the films I’ll be making back home.”

The festival runs from March 20 to 25, said Estein.

“Manila is Full of Men Named Boy”

“Initially, I never thought of taking “Nakaw” around international festivals. I just wanted to voice out the reality I see in the Philippines, while crafting a piece of art that’s authentic,” Belarmino added.

“Nakaw” has already made it to one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals, Cannes in 2017. It was screened in the festival’s Short Film Corner. “I’m excited to represent the country once again, this time in Germany,” Belarmino declared.

The Landshut festival has a history of screening Filipino films, Estein pointed out. Three years ago, it screened Kenneth Lim Dagatan’s “Sanctissima” and Joe Bacus’ “Happy Fiesta.” —MARINEL R. CRUZ

“Nakaw”