Filipino film about women wins in New York fest

“GANAP na Babae (Garden of Eve),” an indie film about women made by women directors, won the best in cinematography award at the recently concluded Soho International Film Festival in New York City.

Film producer Will Fredo accepted the trophy during ceremonies held at the Capitale in Manhattan on April 22. Fredo thanked cinematographers Myk Manalastas and Gym Lumbrera for their “valuable contributions.”

A total of seven awards were given, including a technical award called Mient’s pick, or excellence in cinematography, which was handed out for the first time that night.

“It was supposed to recognize the technical mastery of a movie, awarded by the film distributor Mient,” Fredo wrote in a Facebook entry shortly after the event. “I seriously thought the award would again go to Todd Bellanca (director of “The Bad Penny,” best feature award winner). When [our movie’s title was] announced, all of us were floored. With everyone in shock, I composed myself and thanked the SIFFNYC and Mient.”

“Ganap na Babae” presents three interweaving stories about Filipino women through the eyes of contemporary women directors Rica Arevalo, Ellen Ramos and Sarah Roxas: A prostitute (Mercedes Cabral) looks back on her life. Sweet potato farmer Elena (Jam Pérez) migrates to Japan as a mail-order bride, leaving her family to her sister Milagros (Sue Prado). A widow (Boots Anson Roa) falls in love with a younger man (Rome Mallari).

Club.Mov

“Ploy,” a Thai drama written and directed by TaPen-Ek Ratanaruang, is one of the featured films at the “Club.Mov: The Idiot’s Guide to Heartbreak 2” which opened April 25 and winds up tomorrow with a 9 p.m. screening at Mogwai Cinematheque, Cubao Expo in Quezon City.

Starring Thai actors Lalita Panyopas and Pornwut Sarasin, “Ploy” is about a middle-aged couple who question their seven-year marriage. The movie premiered at the Director’s Fortnight of the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. Thai superstar Ananda Everingham is featured in a supporting role as a bartender.

To be screened tonight at 9 at Mogwai Cinematheque is Khavn dela Cruz’s 70-minute film, “The Middle Mystery of Kristo Negro.” Admission is free.

‘Island-wide’ preem

“Deadline (The Reign of Impunity),” the latest advocacy film from the award-winning tandem of director Joel Lamangan and scriptwriter Bonifacio Ilagan, will have an “island-wide” premiere in Mindanao in July, according to line producer Dennis Evangelista.

The film discusses political characters in “blind item fashion,” based on real events, Evangelista told the Inquirer.

“Deadline” will have three special screenings on May 28 at Bantayog ng Mga Bayani in Quezon City. The College Editors Guild of the Philippines will hold screenings in June to coincide with National Freedom Week. On July 23, the Alliance Against Impunity in Mindanao will sponsor simultaneous screenings in Davao, Cagayan de Oro and General Santos.

The film top bills Tirso Cruz III, Allen Dizon, Ina Feleo and Lovi Poe, with Jaime Pebanco, Raquel Villavicencio, Tony Mabesa, Richard Quan and the late John Apacible. Broadcasters Cheche Lazaro and Ted Failon appear in cameo roles.

Fete for ‘Lola’

Multi-awarded filmmaker Brillante Mendoza, whose “Lola” won best film at the Fajr Film Festival in Tehran in February, formally received his trophy recently from Iranian Ambassador Ali Mojtaba Rouzbehani in a short ceremony at the Summit Room of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Pasay City.

Veteran thespians Anita Linda and Rustica Carpio accepted their best actress trophies in person (as grandmothers living in the slums of Malabon who try to cope with the loss of their respective grandsons).

Also present at the event were professor/actor Rene Durian; Larry Castillo; Antonio Morales, executive director, DFA-Office of the Undersecretary for Special and Ocean Concerns; Virgilo A. Reyes Jr., assistant secretary, DFA-Office of Middle East and African Affairs; Hossein Divsalar, cultural counselor, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran; and Generoso Calonge, senior special assistant, DFA-Office of the Undersecretary for Policy.