‘Nervous Translation’ goes to three continents

Jana Agoncillo on the set of “Nervous Translation”

Shireen Seno’s award-winning film “Nervous Translation” is headed to three continents: North America, Australia and Europe.

The Cinema One product is competing at the Guanajuato International Film Festival, in San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato, Mexico, ongoing until July 29.

According to its website, the Guanajuato fest is considered “the most important platform for young filmmakers in Latin America.”

Seno told the Inquirer: “I really admire this fest in the historic towns of San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato. It’s a state-sponsored festival that does not charge admission and screens films from 10 a.m. until 4 a.m. each day in such various locations as the main plaza and subterranean streets and tunnels!”

Next stop for Seno’s movie is the Melbourne International Film Festival in Australia, from Aug. 2 to 19.

The Melbourne fest website relates that the Filipino film “invites [the viewer] to see the world through the eyes of a child.”

Melbourne organizers hail Seno’s film as “an enchanting, thoughtful paean to childhood innocence, curiosity and vulnerability.”

The Melbourne fest seeks to “build an enlightened, engaged society through film,” by bringing the world’s story through “curated and unforgettable screen experiences.”

Agoncillo

Since Melbourne is the “cultural capital of Australia,” the festival is widely regarded as the continent’s “largest and most significant” cinema event.”

Lastly, Seno’s film is also vying for top honors at the 15th Anonimul International Independent Film Festival in Romania, from Aug. 6 to 12.

Seno remarked: “Anonimul aims to create a different kind of festival … for independent films and young directors. Anonimul means anonymous.”

She described the Romanian fest as “a cozy gathering in Sfântu Gheorghe, a magical place in the Danube Delta where the Danube meets the Black Sea. Sfântu Gheorghe village is an isolated location accessible only by air or by water.”

According to its site, the Anonimulfest puts a premium on “diversity, originality and boldness.”

Seno enthused: “If only I could go with the film to these three places! But I’m glad it is getting this exposure, especially in the competitive sections.”

Back home, “Nervous Translation,” which topbills child star Jana Agoncillo, will be shown at the Cinemalaya fest from Aug. 3 to 12, as part of its program on last year’s indie gems.

“I am also very happy about the Cinemalaya event,” she asserted. “Local screenings are rare, so this will be a nice chance for friends, family and colleagues who have been asking about our next local showing [to catch it].”