Romantic-drama piece set in 1970s wins Get Reel mobile short film award

Dylan Ray Talon

A story about love and loss told via spoken-word poetry emerged as the big winner of the first Get Reel Mobile Shorts Film Festival 2019—a competition mounted by McJim Classic Leather for 10-minute movies shot entirely with phone cameras.

Directed by young filmmaker Dylan Ray Talon, “Walang Hanggang Ligaya sa Una Mong Ngiti,” a romantic-drama set in the 1970s, took home the best mobile short film and best cinematography awards.

It also won for Talon—an advertising graduate and theater actor from the Far Eastern University—the best director trophy.

The competition received over 50 entries, which was then whittled down to seven finalists.

Other winners include James Edward Golla’s “May Love Life Na Si Pepito Jr. (won best screenplay and best comedy); Mark Jason Sucgang’s “Pitaka” (viral shorts award); John Carlo Balasbas Tarobal’s “Champion” (best inspirational story); and Roy Robert Rusiana’s “Kabilin” (best drama).

The judges also handed out acting citations to newbie actors who turned in noteworthy performances.

The festival, which sought shorts depicting values of “modern Filipino gentlemen,” aims to provide a level playing field for aspiring filmmakers by requiring them to use the most basic filmmaking tools. —ALLAN POLICARPIO