‘Birdshot’ competes in Budapest

Mary Joy Apostol in “Birdshot”

After screenings in Japan, Lithuania, Laos and Sweden, Mikhail Red’s “Birdshot” will compete at the 24th Titanic International Film Festival in Budapest, Hungary, from April 6 to 13. The Filipino film is vying for the fest’s top prize with entries from Norway, United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Denmark and the United States. “Birdshot” is the only Asian entry in competition.

This year’s fest showcases films from 29 countries.

The Titanic is considered the “biggest international film festival in Hungary.” The top prize is called the Breaking Waves Award, given by the jury to the “most outstanding, daring and innovative movie” in the lineup.

Red told the Inquirer: “We are excited … [that] we get to compete again. Our last competition was in Goteborg, Sweden, [on] January. This is our sixth festival since our premiere in Tokyo last October. We have four other festivals booked in the coming months.”

“Birdshot” won best picture in the Asian Future section of the Tokyo International Film Festival.

The film’s producer, TBA, is eyeing a local release later this year.

“Sadly, our trailer was disapproved by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board,” Red recalled.

TBA has come up with a new trailer, which “we hope will be approved, so we can start promoting the film.” —BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR.