A SHORT film produced by UST communication seniors won four awards in the first-ever Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival.
“Kung Nag-aatubili,” directed by fourth-year communication student Dizelle Masilungan under homegrown production team Familea Films, competed with 24 other entries from different universities nationwide during the awards ceremony on Saturday, March 16.
The film features queer love between Gelo (played by David King Escio), a college artist struggling to find inspiration for his thesis painting, and Kael (played by Aishkylos Akiyama).
Masilungan was named best director. He was also among the ten recipients of Mowelfund Film Institute Scholarship, a grant that offers individuals workshops and seminars in filmmaking.
“My heart is full of love and gratefulness to the people who were a part of the film production as well as to those who supported it…[I] never really thought we’d make [it] this far,” Masilungan told The Flame.
Acosta was conferred the best in cinematography award, while Akiyama bagged the best supporting actor award.
The film also placed third for the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board’s “Responsableng Paglikha (responsible creation)” award.
Along with Masilungan and Acosta, the Familea Films production team is composed of Rufino Aresta, Jedd Leaño, Angela Lamsen, Raven Arellano, Jerui Capisonda, Veronica Caridad, Nathanael Monte, Lorenzo Prietos, Neala Calinawan, Rommel Sales, Shemuel Lopez and Paolo Alejandrino.
“Kung Nag-aatubili” also received nominations for best production design, best sound, best poster, best musical scoring and best picture, while Escio was nominated for best actor.
Among the films that secured awards were “Last Shift” (Polytechnic University of the Philippines), Text FIND DAD and Send to 2366” (University of the Philippines) and “May Kulay Rosas ba sa Bahaghari?” (University of the Philippines).
The film viewing ran from March 15 to 17 in Gateway Cineplex 18 in Cubao, Quezon City. F – with reports from Carlo Jose Ruga
