Filipino short film about subculture ‘Bakte dance’ to compete at Cannes

Arvin Belarmino (center) with the stars of “Radikals” set to compete at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival Critics’ Week (La Semaine de la Critique) | Image: Waf Studios

Filipino director Arvin Belarmino, who is set to compete at the 63rd edition of Critics’ Week (La Semaine de la Critique) at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival via his short film “Radikals,” weighed in on the importance of taking local films into the international arena and how Filipinos can show their support and help uplift the Philippine cinema.

Sitting down for an exclusive interview with INQUIRER.net, Belarmino said that helping them “spread the word” about the local films competing abroad is something they appreciate and considers a “big thing.”

“Word of mouth is really important for [films] to be exposed. We are having this triumph. For this year, isa kami sa mapalad na magcocompete [we are one of the lucky ones], so dala dala namin ‘yung Pilipinas [we carry the Philippines with us] so I think celebrating it with us is already a big deal. Spread the word, malaking bagay na ‘yon samin (it’s already a big thing for us).” he said.

Belarmino underscored that “Radikals” is an homage to the city where he grew up and started filmmaking, which is Cavite. He aims to tell a subculture, which is about the traditional dance called “Bakte.” He describes the dance as a “ritual and survival dance” of the farmers that shows “freedom of expression and also appreciation for their hard work in farming.”

READ: FDCP leads Philippine delegation to Cannes Marché du Film 2023

When asked to describe how significant it was for him to bring his work to a bigger stage, the director expressed his excitement to see how the audiences from different countries would react to the film, showcasing a culture that they may or may not be familiar with.

“Sobrang malaking bagay siya (It’s a big thing). It somehow transcends your culture to a bigger stage. It’s really interesting for them to see kung ano ‘yung kultura na meron tayo (what kind of culture we have), especially our film, tackling a subculture. It’s really interesting and exciting, especially for me, as a filmmaker, for me to see their reactions,” he said.

“Radikals” official poster | Image: Waf Studios

The esteemed alumnus of “Talents Tokyo” explained that participating in a festival like Cannes is like “exchanging cultural gems” with other nationalities, and it gives him a different kind of fulfillment.

“Malaking bagay sakin ‘yon, sa Pilipinas, kumbaga parang nakakapag exchange tayo ng cultural visions and gems, even the stories from other countries, na sabay sabay siyang pinapanood sa isang malaking festival where we celebrate cinema from different parts of the world. Iba ‘yung pakiramdam na ‘yon,” he expressed.

(That’s a big thing for me. For the Philippines, it seems like we are exchanging cultural visions and gems, even the stories from other countries, which will be watched all at the same time at a big festival where people celebrate cinema from different parts of the world. That feeling is different.)

Belarmino added that it’s also a way for filmmakers “to improve and learn” about their craft as they engage with other filmmakers, panelists, and the overall film community who are all there to celebrate world cinema. 

Despite already competing in other international competitions in the past, such as in Germany, Belarmino remarked that his Cannes feat is the “sweetest” for him so far as it was the section that focuses on first and second feature films from up-and-coming directors, and many of the biggest names in the film industry now started at this section, including Philip Kaufman, Wong Kar-wai, and Guillermo del Toro, among others.

“This one is very special because it’s my first time. I’m not saying it’s my favorite dahil lahat naman ‘yan even local [special]. I think ito lang ‘yung pinaka sweetest so far. Lalo na itong section na to, Critics Week is one of my favorite sections sa Cannes Festival because some of the films I really loved came from this section, Raw and Aftersun. So feel ko napaka laking achievement nito sakin, sa buong group, na natanggap kami, na nagkaroon kami ng opportunity,” he shared.

“Radikals” movie still with the Cannes Critics’ Week logo | Image: Waf Studios

Despite his noteworthy career directing short films, having won a Gawad Urian for “Nakaw” and two Cinemalaya awards for “Hinakdal,” Belarmino asserted that he also plans to venture into the mainstream, as he shared that he and Waf Studios are working on his first full-length film for next year.

“I’m not closing my door to direct a mainstream film soon. Syempre isa rin ‘yan sa mga gusto ko, ‘yung pasayahin ‘yung parents ko, ‘yung makakaclick ng something sa masa. But for now, bilang isang filmmaker, I want to establish my voice first. I think magandang simula ‘to sa Radikals.” he said.

Belarmino made his debut feature project with “Ria,” which earned him selection for the 2022 Festival de Cannes Cinéfondation La Residence and won the prestigious Centre National du Cinema (CNC) award. Aside from “Radikals,” a film that he co-directed titled “Silig” would be the opening section in the anthology, which consists of four short films for the Cannes’ Directors Fortnight Factory 2024 program.

Directed and written by Belarmino (co-written by Kyla Romero), “Radikals” tells the story of a young rookie from a bizarre chicken-dance group who faces a heckler after being the worst dancer at a performance, leading him to a series of strange events that reveal what the group does to their weakest link.

The film is produced by Waf Studios, 9 Films, Kristine De Leon, Natividad De Leon, and Wesley A. Yap, among many others. The 20-minute film features Elora Españo, Timothy Castillo, and Ross Pesigan in the cast.

The Critics’ Week will run from May 15 to 23, alongside the main Cannes Film Festival.

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