MANILA, Philippines — Filmmaker Dwein Baltazar’s “Oda sa Wala” (Ode to Nothing) is set to compete in the prestigious 54th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.
“ODA SA WALA (Ode to Nothing) is also the ONLY FILIPINO ENTRY to this year’s main competition of the prestigious 54th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic!” Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chair Liza Diño announced Thursday via her Facebook account.
Diño said Baltazar is also the first female filmmaker to represent the country in one of the most prestigious European film festivals.
“We have our FIRST FILIPINO FEMALE DIRECTOR to be part of the list of our local visionary filmmakers competing in a top A-LIST EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL. Congratulations director Dwein Baltazar for this achievement!” Diño said.
While Baltazar recognized that “we should go way past the gender,” she said she is proud to represent the country and women in the international film festival.
“Always happy to reprezint Pinas and my mga kabarong kababahian! MARAMING SALAMAT FDCP! Kahit pa sinabi ko sa isang talk na sa pagpepelikula, dapat we go way past the gender and that there is no ‘female filmmakers’ but I fully understand the need to be called one sa mga ganitong celebrations,” Baltazar wrote in a Facebook post.
The 54th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival runs from June 28 to July 6.
“Oda sa Wala,” starring actress and comedienne Pokwang, tells the story of a maid whose luck changes when she comes across a mysterious corpse at her family-owned funeral parlor.
The film first premiered at the 2018 QCinema International Film Festival where it bagged several awards like best film, best cinematography, best director, best screenplay and best actress.
Meanwhile, Baltazar was named as Best Director and Best Screenplay at the 2019 Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Awards for her film “Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus.” (Editor: Julie Espinosa)