PH film wins in Jeonju fest

Filipino filmmaker Dwein Baltazar (left) and Japanese director Masato Ozawa. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–A Filipino film won the top prize at the South Korean film festival Friday.

Filipino filmmaker Dwein Baltazar’s “Mamay Umeng” tied for best film, known as the Woosuk Prize, with Japanese director Masato Ozawa’s “Remiges” at the 14th Jeonju International Film Festival, held in South Korea from April 25 to May 3.

An entry in last year’s Cinema One Originals, the film is about an 84-year-old man who decides to meet “Death” on his own terms.

“Mamay Umeng” marks the directorial debut of Baltazar who previously worked as a film stylist, according to the Jeonju web site.

Baltazar’s best film prize comes with US $5,000.