Bernardo megs first feature

BERNARDO. Helms “Ang Huling Chacha ni Anita.”

Sigrid Bernardo won Best Director for the short film, “Babae,” in the first Cinemalaya film fest in 2005. She makes her feature-length debut at this year’s CineFilipino fest via “Ang Huling Chacha ni Anita.”

Bernardo got her Theater Arts Performance degree from UP, and has acted in the indie films, “Nono,” “Cuchera” and “Ebolusyon ng Isang Pamilyang Pilipino.” She shares:  “I have a background in theater—I acted in Dulaang UP plays. Then, I acted for Lav Diaz. Production work seemed so much fun, so I applied as a clapper and assistant-director apprentice.

“A woman’s voice is important. I always knew that if I were to direct my first movie, it should be about women,” says the 30-year-old filmmaker. In “Anita,” a 12-year–old girl (Teri Malvar) falls in love for the first time with Pilar, an older woman played by Angel Aquino. “The subject matter is heavy, but the attack is light.”

Comedy

Why did she cast Aquino? She explains, “I didn’t know her personally, but she liked the script. The role is new to her—it requires her to do comedy and some love scenes. I’m an unknown, but Angel and the rest of the cast trusted me. I needed to earn that trust and inspire them—and, happily, they all delivered!”