DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – A short horror movie with a surreal twist by a multi-awarded Filipino indie filmmaker about a mother-and-daughter team of shape shifters bagged the special jury award at the recently held 5th edition of Dreamanila International Film Festival (DIFF).
Francis Gacer, who wrote and directed the winning short, Mona, takes the genre in an unusual direction as its highlights contemporary social issues such as tackling poverty, critics said.
“It has always been my ultimate dream to win awards from Philippine-based film festivals because it cements my film artistry. Though winning a lot of awards internationally is a bigger stage, I would, of course, not like to be a stone rejected by the Philippine builders,” said Gacer of the award.
In bagging the special jury prize for his creation, Gacer was commended for “masterfully directing” the film which consequently “captivated the audience with its gripping narrative.”
“The film seamlessly combines horror and drama, showcasing Gacer’s talent for redefining the genre. The outstanding performances bring depth to a poignant story of survival, sacrifice and the unveiling of hidden truths,” said DIFF.
Gacer’s indie outfit, Kikoman Films, founded on July 2, 2019, has so far won more than 100 awards, including Best Narrative Short Film at the Cannes Arts Fest and a string of others from film competitions in the US, Russia, Canada, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Sweden, England, Lithuania, Singapore, and India, among others.
Story plot
Gacer’s winning entry revolves around two childhood friends in the peasant countryside, who both became single mothers: Mona who was widowed after her husband died of an illness, and Lumeng whose husband was slain by the military on suspicion of being a communist fighter.
“A constant shifting of events is what viewers can expect in this horror-drama short film. I have cultivated a new breed of horror film,” said the 47-year-old Gacer, a student activist who led campus boycotts during his university days in Pampanga.
Lumeng eventually carried on where her husband left off, believing it was the only way to get out of poverty, while Mona kept to herself, renouncing armed struggle and standing pat on her belief that hard work will liberate the poor.
The film takes a rather unexpected turn toward the end.
OFW actors
Mona, shot on location in an Abu Dhabi cornfield, featured two Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) — Anne Del Rosario, who portrayed Mona, and is a project coordinator at a Gulf region-wide supermarket chain; and Soy Churchill Soriano, who played Lumeng and works at an Abu Dhabi shipping company.
Two children of OFWs were also in the cast: Marcus Andrei Carranza, a student in Fujairah, an emirate north of Dubai, and a lead singer in a band. He portrayed Lumeng’s son, Pinong.
The other is Lucy Manalang, a promising singer who played the role of Mona’s daughter, Len-Len.
Second DIFF award
Mona was Gacer’s second winning DIFF piece. The first, Panahon ng Ligalig (Troubled Times) won two commendations in 2021: artistic and cinematic award as well as a screenplay special mention.
Set in mid-1970s at the height of the Vietnamese refugee crisis arising from the Vietnam War, Panahon ng Ligalig featured two Vietnamese refugees in the Philippines, who converted to Islam after being sheltered by a Muslim family. The two, however, eventually faced forced repatriation.
Launched in 2018, DIFF provides a platform for masters and emerging filmmakers to showcase their oeuvres to the world. Renowned industry professionals are chosen to screen entries and select winners. This year’s edition was held from November 30 to December 2. Other winners included entries from the US, Japan and China. – Rappler.com