‘Mamang,’ ‘Signal Rock’ win in Bangladesh

Christian Bables in “Signal Rock”

“It validated all the hard work that the entire team put in the film,” said Denise O’Hara, director of the drama film “Mamang,” which bagged the best picture award in the Women Filmmakers Section of the recent 17th Dhaka International Film Festival in Bangladesh.

Chito Roño’s “Signal Rock” also won for Rodolfo “Rody” Vera the best screenplay award in the same film festival, several Bangladeshi websites announced during the weekend.

“I’m very happy that we were able to connect with an audience,” O’ Hara told the Inquirer on Monday.

“As a first-time female filmmaker, it’s very important for me to know that I was able to tell the story effectively, and that within that running time, I was able to make an audience empathize with our characters,” she said.

“Mamang,” with Celeste Legaspi in the titular role, is about an old woman’s struggle against senility and her desire to be with her son Ferdie.

“Mamang” costars Ketchup Eusebio (left) and Celeste Legaspi

“Empathy has always been at the core of this film,” O’Hara pointed out. “And this award means that we are in the right direction.”

Asked what’s next for her debut film, O’ Hara replied: “With so many platforms available, we’re studying how we could … [bring] the film to a bigger audience here. Hopefully, things work out.”

Vera, meanwhile, said he was pleased to have gotten the recognition.

“It’s very seldom that a best screenplay award is given in international film fests,” he explained. “I’m just so happy that ‘Signal Rock’ bagged one.” —MARINEL R. CRUZ