Image: Instagram/@jakezyrusmusic
A documentary based on the life of singer-songwriter Jake Zyrus bagged the top award at the United States International Film and Video Festival.
The documentary, titled “Jake and Charice”, premiered in Japan in November 2019 for the said festival where it was bestowed the Gold Camera award.
“Congratulations Jake Zyrus and to the whole team for winning the Gold Camera award in US INTERNATIONAL FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL for his documentary aired in Japan last November 2019,” the singer’s official Facebook account posted on June 10.
“Thanks to all the people behind the success. Our heart is beyond grateful,” he added.
The news of the documentary’s win incidentally comes while the world celebrates Pride Month.
“Jake and Charice”, which entered the festival under the “Documentary: Social Issues” category, was produced by Japan’s national broadcasting organization NHK in cooperation with ABS-CBN.
“The singer Charice was the first Asian artist to have a Billboard top-ten hit. Mentored by producer David Foster, she wowed the world with her incomparable talent. Seven years later, she came out as a transgender man, changed her name to Jake Zyrus, and made a fresh start without the renown or voice that he had established as Charice,” the documentary’s synopsis read on the festival’s website.
“Why did Charice choose to live as Jake? How did his family and other people dear to him react? NHK documented Jake’s life and new challenges, his joys and sorrows, and the journey he took to finding his own voice. We hope the documentary will be watched by a wide range of viewers including those who are not interested in gender issues,” it continued.
This is not Zyrus’ first time to work with Japanese filmmakers, however, as she previously starred as Akira in the movie “Yaru Onna” (“She’s a Killer”) back in 2018. JB
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