‘Maratabat’ wins in US indie festival

CHANEL Latorre and Ping Medina in “Maratabat”

ARLYN dela Cruz’s debut film, “Maratabat (Pride and Honor),” won the Award of Merit at The Indie Fest, based in California, United States. Rick Prickett, competition director, told Dela Cruz that the jurors based their choices on “the quality, creativity and technical aspects of each film.”

“Maratabat” earlier won best international film at the People’s Film Festival in New York last June.

Dela Cruz told the Inquirer that the good news came while she was editing her fourth feature film, “Pusit.” “I’m proud of [the members of] the entire team who gave their all to my first film. It’s a victory that I share with everyone, most especially the actors who trusted a newcomer like me.”

“Maratabat” features Ping Medina, Kristofer King, Julio Diaz, Chanel Latorre and Elizabeth Oropesa in lead roles. Bayani San Diego Jr.