Sinulog film festival 2016: Filmmaker’s perseverance pays off

CEBU, Philippines - Despite the many failures and rejections he suffered, amateur Cebuano filmmaker Christian Paolo Lat’s passion in producing short films never waned. Last Saturday, his commitment paid off after he took home the Sinulog 2016 Short Film Festival’s top prize.

His film “Igsuon,” which bagged five major awards including Best Picture, demonstrate the qualities that made him persevere in doing what he loves best.

 “People may appreciate that if something bad happens, do not lose hope. If something bad happens, don’t take shortcuts in life, have faith in your family, have faith in God, have faith that everything’s going to be alright at the end of the day. And this (movie) is a living proof,” he told reporters at the sidelines of the awarding ceremony at SM City Cebu Ci-nema Saturday night.

“This is my third year joining (the Sinulog Film Festival) but this is my first time making (a) Visayan film. I didn’t know how it was going to turn out but I guess it turned out better than I expected,” he said.

Back in 2014, Lat presented “Niño,” which he wrote, directed and produced. It received six nominations but failed to win any award.

The next year, he delved into acting and played the male lead role of “Salamat,” earning for himself the Best Actor award.

Lat shared that Igsuon’s storyline revolved on the importance of brotherhood, which he said was reflective of his life growing up with his brother.

“We (him and his brother) were always fighting. (While) our parents were away overseas, my grandparents raised me since I was a baby. Then they would always tell me, ‘He (Lat’s brother) is the only guy that you (would) have left if we will (pass from this life) and that’s the only person you have, your brother,’” he said.

Lat dedicated the film to his grandmother, who passed away just a few days ago. He said she taught him a lot about life, especially on religiosity.

“This is a story for my grandmother that I made. I’m very happy and I’m sure she’s very proud of me,” said Lat.

Igsuon, directed by Lat and produced by WOLFPAC FILMS, won the awards for Best Picture, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Engineering and Musical Scoring, and Best Editing in the short film category. It also received two special awards: Best Playbill and Best Poster.

“If you just push it (capability) to the limit then keep working hard, a lot of times you may fall down but…that is what my story is about…there is a better tomorrow,” he said.

Cebuano Youtube sensation Matt Lubid (from Ato Ni Vines), The FREEMAN column writer and university professor Ligaya Rabago, and Shun Bacalla starred in Lat’s film.  Bacalla was also named Best Child Performer.

“I worked with amazing actors. The relationship I built with new people, that’s what really God made me excited into making this film,” he said.

The Sinulog Foundation Inc., Cebu City government, and Cebu Filmmakers’ Society are behind the annual film fest, which this year mirrors the theme “Christ in you, our hope of glory” of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress, which was held in Cebu last January 24 to 31.

“Sinulog is not only about street dancing and it has involved several art forms like photography, film, music and dancing…. We would like to promote more and develop talents in the field of filmmaking, actors and actresses and filmmakers,” said SFI executive director Ricky Ballesteros during the awarding.

Aside from Lat, award-winning Cebuano filmma-ker Remton Siega Zuasola was named Best Director, with his film “Lunch Box” getting the second place for Best Picture. Lunch Box’s Dione Monsanto won the Best Actress award; Best in Production Design went to “Leyenda” by Eli Razo; Best Screenplay was bagged by Lindsey Banaynal for his “Ang Bitoon ug ang Barungoy,” which won third place for Best Picture.

The casts of Richard Nayne’s “Amahan Ko” also won the most number of awards, with Dante Luzon, winning Best Actor; Ben Jayma, Best Supporting Actor; and Janice Gimena, Best Supporting Actress.

In the video documentary category, January Yap’s and Hannah Gabiana’s “Ann Savage” got the most number of awards, namely: Best Editing, Best Sound Engineering and Musical Scoring (Wendel Ypil), Best Story (Hannah Gabiana), and Best Direction (Januar Yap). Ann Savage also won the Best Packaging and Best Poster special awards.

Ademar Ochotorena’s “Salamat Niño,” on the other hand, won Best Video Documentary and Best Cinematography (Ryan Carpio and Ferdinand Chocoy Gonzales), second place in Best Video Documentary went to “Ann Savage” while Fr. Richard Lagos’ “Belo ng Manopello” won third place.

Each winner of the short film and video documentary categories received P100,000; second prize winners took home P50,000; and third prize winners got P30,000.  (FREEMAN)