‘Bwakaw’ in Switzerland and HK

Filipino filmmaker Jun Robles Lana’s “Bwakaw” will compete for the Regard d’Or, or the Grand Prize, at the Fribourg International Film Festival in Switzerland, to be held March 16 to 23. According to the festival site, the Cinemalaya film “rests largely on the shoulders of Eddie Garcia,” who plays a grumpy old gay man who finds a loyal companion in his pet dog. The Grand Prize comes with a cash prize of CHF 30,000 (P1,310,100), to be divided between the director (CHF20,000 or P873,400) and producer (CHF10,000 0r P436,700). Meanwhile, Garcia is nominated for Best Actor at the Asian Film Awards and “Bwakaw” for the Signis Award at the Hong Kong International Film Festival, to be held March 17 to April 2. Bayani San Diego Jr.