PH filmmaker named Berlinale advisor

Auraeus Solito

Palawan-born filmmaker Auraeus Solito, also known as Kanakan-Balintagos, has been selected to serve as one of the advisors of a special series called Berlinale NATIVe, in this year’s edition of the Berlin International Film Festival (IFF) in Germany.

Solito said he was thrilled about the international recognition for Philippine indigenous cinema. “[I’m] honored to be a part of this panel at the Berlinale … It’s amazing that ‘Busong’ premiered at the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in 2011. Eight years later, it will be screened in another A-list festival, the Berlinale,” he posted on his Facebook account.

His film, “Busong,” will be shown in the special series, as well as the 1977 film “Mababangong Bangungot,” by National Artist for Film Kidlat Tahimik, according to the 2019 Berlinale IFF official website. Also featured in this section is “Memoria,” a short film by Kamila Andini from Indonesia.

“NATIVe: A Journey into Indigenous Cinema,” which will run from Feb. 7 to 15, was launched as a special series at the 63rd Berlinale in February 2013. It presents short and feature-length documentary and fiction films from all ages, and supports new indigenous films within the other Berlinale sections. This year’s focus is on the Asia-Pacific region of the globe.

Kidlat Tahimik

Meanwhile, selected for the Berlinale Talents—from among the 3,401 applicants from 130 countries—were director-screenwriter Emerson Reyes, cinematographer-director Theo Lozada, director-production designer Nestor Abrogena and director-producer Che Tagyamon.

Under its mandate to promote the local film industry’s growth and development, the Film Development Council of the Philippines supports the participants of the Berlinale Talents through its International Film Studies Assistance Program.

The Berlinale Talents will be held from Feb. 9 to 14, at the three venues of HAU Hebbel am Ufer theater in Berlin, Germany. —MARINEL R. CRUZ